Former President Donald Trump dared the New York judge overseeing his criminal trial in Manhattan to throw him in jail and compared himself to the deceased, former South African leader Nelson Mandela over the gag order in the case.

New York Judge Juan Merchan issued a gag order against Trump last week to prevent the former president from publicly discussing jurors, court staffers, attorneys and their families connected to the criminal hush money case.

"If this Partisan Hack wants to put me in the 'clink' for speaking the open and obvious TRUTH, I will gladly become a Modern Day Nelson Mandela - It will be my GREAT HONOR," Trump wrote Saturday on Truth Social about Merchan's gag order. Trump is still able to comment on Merchan and Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, just not their families under the order. 

"We have to Save our Country from these Political Operatives masquerading as Prosecutors and Judges, and I am willing to sacrifice my Freedom for that worthy cause," Trump also wrote.