A new chapter in American history will be written today when becomes the first former US president to appear in court facing criminal charges.
Trump’s unprecedented journey will begin when he departs his Trump Tower penthouse in Midtown Manhattan at around 10.30am – closely guarded by his Secret Service detail – for an 11am arrival at District Attorney Alvin Bragg’s office downtown.
Once inside and away from the glare of the world’s media, the 76-year-old is expected to have his fingerprints taken but will likely , according to reports last night.
Trump will be ushered into the Manhattan Criminal Courthouse, which is inside the same building as Bragg’s office, for the landmark arraignment hearing.
All the while, law enforcement officials will be praying that the inevitable swell of protesters outside – a mixture of MAGA fans and anti-Trump activists – remain peaceful.A huge security operation will be underway, with thousands of NYPD cops on standby in case violence breaks out.
After the court appearance, which might only last about 15 minutes, Trump will fly on his private jet .
There, he’s expected to deliver a tub-thumping address railing against the criminal case that he’s branded a politically-motivated witch hunt.
This is how the historic day is likely to unfold.
Donald Trump walks into Trump Tower in Manhattan on Monday.The former president made a point of pausing to wave at supporters – and he may wish to make similar public displays today when he appears at Manhattan Criminal Courthouse
– nicknamed Trump Force One – on Monday afternoon. He was escorted to Trump Tower in a heavily-guarded entourage and spent the night holed up in his personal suite on the upper floors of the 58-story skyscraper.
The ex-president is likely to depart his penthouse at around 10.30am today.Sources say he’s slated to arrive at the courthouse on 100 Center Street at 11am.
His motorcade, which includes his legal team, advisors including son Eric and Secret Service security detail, will probably travel south on Fifth Avenue before taking a left at Madison Square Park and continuing downtown.
The roads on Trump’s route will be closed during the journey and several sections were already lined with steel security barriers on Monday night.Similar measures are in place outside the courthouse, where large crowds of Trump supporters and opponents are likely to gather ahead of his arrival.
Trump will be taken first into the District Attorney’s offices. It’s likely he’ll hand over any personal items for safe keeping – including objects like a wristwatch or his cellphone – before giving personal information like his name and date of birth.
His fingerprints will then likely be taken.
Supporters of former US president Donald Trump protest outside the Manhattan District Attorney’s office in New York City on April 3
A bulked-up NYPD presence was seen on Fifth Avenue on Monday
Trump’s Ultra Long-range Private Jet Charters plane sits on the tarmac at LaGuardia Airport, with the Rikers Island jail in the background, after landing in New York City on Monday.He will fly back to Florida following the court appearance on Tuesday and deliver an address from Mar-a-Lago
Barricades were set up around Trump Tower on on Fifth Avenue in Manhattan on Monday ahead of Trump’s arrival