By John Ikani
Donald Trump has arrived New York City to face criminal charges in Manhattan, marking a major escalation in the legal woes facing the former US President.
Trump arrived in New York after traveling from his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida, and then headed to Trump Tower on Fifth Avenue in preparation for his arraignment on Tuesday.
“On Tuesday morning I will be going to, believe it or not, the Courthouse. America was not supposed to be this way!” Trump wrote on his social media account ahead of his court appearance.
New York authorities are preparing for possible protests and disruptions, with barricades set up outside the courthouse to ensure legal proceedings are not disturbed.
As Trump arrived at Trump Tower, he was greeted by a mix of tourists, curious bystanders, and media, with his supporters appearing to be outnumbered by the gathered crowd.
One New Yorker who waited for hours on Fifth Avenue to catch a glimpse of the former president expressed her support, saying “It needs to be done because people are saying New Yorkers don’t support Trump – he has supporters.”
Trump is facing criminal charges in relation to alleged hush money payments made to adult film actress Stormy Daniels.
He was indicted by a grand jury last week, becoming the first former or sitting US president to face criminal charges.
The former president is expected to plead not guilty and will be fingerprinted and photographed on Tuesday before returning to Florida in the evening to deliver a speech.
Ahead of his arraignment, Trump has hired top defense lawyer Todd Blanche, who specializes in white-collar criminal investigations, to boost his legal team.
Trump’s supporters and allies have rushed to his defense since the indictment was announced, with right-wing Republican member of Congress from Georgia, Marjorie Taylor Greene, planning a separate event in New York to support the former president.
Despite the legal challenges, Trump appears to be consolidating his standing among Republican primary voters, according to recent polls.
He remains the clear frontrunner against other contenders for the party’s 2024 nomination, with Florida Governor Ron DeSantis expected to be his main opponent.
