WATCH | Trump flies to New York for court surrender

A plane carrying former US president Donald Trump flew from a Florida airport bound for New York City on Monday as he prepared to face charges stemming from an investigation into hush money paid to a porn star before the 2016 election.

With New York taking security precautions and the mayor telling any potential rabble-rousers to behave, Trump was due to surrender at the Manhattan district attorney's office on Tuesday and is likely to be fingerprinted before appearing in court for an arraignment where he will plead not guilty.

Trump, a Republican seeking to regain the presidency in 2024, is the first former US president to face criminal charges.

Beefing up his legal team, Trump hired Todd Blanche, a prominent white-collar criminal defence lawyer and a former federal prosecutor, to lead his defence, two sources familiar with the matter said.

Blanche previously represented Paul Manafort, Trump's 2016 campaign chairman, when Manafort was hit with New York state fraud charges after being sentenced to prison for federal crimes. The state charges were eventually dismissed and Trump pardoned Manafort before he left office. Blanche also previously represented Igor Fruman, who was an associate of former Trump attorney Rudy Giuliani.

The specific charges in the Trump grand jury indictment have yet to be disclosed. Trump has said he is innocent. He and his allies have portrayed the charges as politically motivated.

A motorcade of several vehicles took Trump from his Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm Beach to the airport in nearby West Palm Beach. Trump climbed out of an SUV before he and members of his entourage climbed a set of stairs to enter his plane, painted in red, white and blue with “TRUMP” in big letters on the side and an image of the American flag on the tail.

“WITCH HUNT, as our once great country is going to HELL!” Trump posted on social media before he departed.

Trump said earlier on social media he would go to Trump Tower in Manhattan after arriving in New York and head to the court on Tuesday morning.

A few dozen Trump fans cheered at the Florida airport and along the route he took to get there, carrying signs and flags.

“Our country needs him,” said Cindy Falco, 65, of Boynton Beach, Florida. “He's pro-God, pro-family and pro-country.”

Falco predicted exoneration, saying: “Nothing is going to stick to him.”

Trump's detractors also weighed in.

“Isn't it ironic that they couldn't get Donald Trump for all of the crimes he's committed, except payment to a porn star?” said New Jersey resident Robert Hoatson, 71, outside Trump Tower. “It always comes down to the lowliest of charges.”

“It's a terrific day. I hope it goes well and he is eventually found guilty,” he added.

Trump's campaign on Monday issued the latest in a series of fundraising emails it has sent since word of the indictment emerged last Thursday, taking aim at the media's reporting on his indictment.

Remarks attributed to Trump in the email stated: “Our country has fallen. But I'm not giving up on America. We can and we will save our nation in 2024.”

His campaign said Trump raised more than $4 million (R71.2m) in the 24 hours after the news of his indictment.

A court official said the arraignment was planned for 2.15pm (1815 GMT) on Tuesday. Trump will return to Florida and deliver remarks from Mar-a-Lago at 8.15pm on Tuesday (0015 GMT on Wednesday), his office said.

Trump is expected to appear before justice Juan Merchan, the judge who presided over a criminal trial last year in which Trump's property company was convicted of tax fraud. Trump himself was not charged in that case.

A court official said the judge would decide on Monday whether to allow cameras and video in the courtroom.

Trump wrote on social media on Friday that Merchan “HATES ME” and also has assailed the prosecutor in the case, Manhattan district attorney Alvin Bragg, a Democrat. The New York case is one of several probes Trump faces.

New York police at the weekend began erecting barricades along the edge of the pavements around Trump Tower and the Manhattan Criminal Court building. Media crews set up close to Trump Tower and some spectators lined up nearby.

One passer-by walked by shouting, “Lock him up”, as others behind him clapped. A Trump supporter shouted back, “Lock Bragg up”.

Demonstrations were expected at those sites on Tuesday and police said they were prepared.

“While there may be some rabble-rousers thinking about coming to our city tomorrow [Tuesday], our message is clear and simple: Control yourselves. New York City is our home, not a playground for your misplaced anger,” mayor Eric Adams told reporters.

“As always, we will not allow violence or vandalism of any kind. And if one is caught participating in any act of violence they will be arrested and held accountable no matter who you are,” Adams added, specifically mentioning Republican congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene, who has announced plans to protest.

“Be on your best behaviour,” the mayor said.

Before the indictment, the grand jury heard evidence about a $130,000 payment to adult film actress Stormy Daniels in the waning days of the 2016 presidential campaign. Daniels has said she was paid to keep silent about a sexual encounter she had with Trump at a Lake Tahoe hotel in 2006. Trump denies having had any such relationship with her.

Trump, 76, served as president from 2017 to 2021 and in November launched a bid to win the 2024 Republican presidential nomination, aiming to deny Democratic President Joe Biden a second term in office.

Reuters