Former US President Donald Trump is now under arrest at the Manhattan courthouse where he will soon be arraigned for charges linked to a hush-money scheme during the 2016 election.
Moments before starting his trip to the Manhattan criminal court, he shared a rather obvious message with his followers on the social media platform Truth Social.
“Heading to Lower Manhattan, the Courthouse. Seems so SURREAL – WOW, they are going to ARREST ME,” Trump said. “Can’t believe this is happening in America. MAGA!”
Trump has already used his Truth Social account to repeatedly attack Manhattan district attorney Alvin Bragg, whose office oversaw the hush-money investigation.
The former president will likely double down on those attacks tonight, when he delivers remarks at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida at 8.15pm ET.
Hundreds of Donald Trump supporters and anti-Trump protesters on Tuesday swarmed the streets around the courthouse in New York City where the former president was due to be arraigned on charges related to a hush-money payment to a porn star.
Hours before Trump turned himself in on Tuesday afternoon, crowds of people whistled, shouted and raised placards in support of Trump, who has already announced his candidacy for president in 2024.
Separated by barricades from the Trump crowd, counter-protesters celebrated the former president's indictment with signs that said "Lock him up!", a reference to a chant often directed at Trump's opponent Hillary Clinton during his successful presidential campaign in 2016.
A large group of reporters watched a scene punctuated by the sounds of drums, cowbells, whistles and horns.
