Trump walks out of the courtroom during closing arguments by Carroll's lawyer

Donald J. Trump did not remain present Friday to hear closing arguments from the attorney representing the woman who sued him.

The lawyer, Roberta A. Kaplan, began her presentation by focusing on the damage she said Trump has done to her client, E. Jean Carroll, and her reputation, telling the jury that Mr. social media has normalized. who, because of his actions, thought it was okay to attack Ms. Carroll.

Shortly afterwards, in an unusual breach of courtroom decorum, Mr. Trump stood up and walked out, though Ms. Kaplan continued as if nothing unusual had happened.

“The record will show that Mr. Trump just stood up and left the courtroom,” Judge Lewis A. Kaplan said.

When Mr. Trump got up to leave, it happened suddenly and without warning. He walked slowly out of the room, followed by one of his lawyers. He said nothing as he walked to the door, and reporters and onlookers in the courtroom craned their necks to stare at him.

A sketch artist began quickly drawing him as he left the courtroom.

A number of reporters rushed to catch him outside. But he did not appear to appear and the reporters eventually returned to the building.

Later, Ms. Kaplan noted that Mr. Trump used his attacks on Ms. Carroll as part of his presidential campaign. At one point, a juror leaned forward and looked expectantly at the door.

Before Mr. Trump walked out, before the closing arguments even began, he appeared frustrated with the judge and shook his head repeatedly. When Ms. Kaplan began describing last May's verdict finding that Trump had sexually assaulted Ms. Carroll, he became even more frustrated — scoffing, mumbling and shaking his head.

Trump returned to the courtroom more than an hour after his departure at around 11:15 a.m., just before his attorney, Alina Habba, began her closing arguments.