Donald Trump heads to New York, where he will turn himself in to authorities to face prosecution

Former US president Donald Trump has arrived in New York where he will surrender himself to authorities.

Former US president Donald Trump has arrived in New York where he will surrender himself to authorities tomorrow in the wake of his indictment by a grand jury.

He boarded his branded “Trump” Boeing 757 jet at Palm Beach airport, north of Miami, at around 12.30pm Florida time on Monday (2.30am Tuesday AEST).

Mr Trump gave the thumbs up to a waving policeman as he sped to the airport in Florida.

While he was airborne Mr Trump posted to his TruthSocial social media feed, in all capitals, “AMERICA FIRST!” in an another sign he will go on the attack against the court proceedings.

The plane touched down at New York’s LaGuardia airport around 3.30pm New York time (5.30am AEST).

Former US President Donald Trump waves as he arrives at Trump Tower in Manhattan, after flying in from Florida. Picture: Ed Jones/AFP

Trump supporters gather at Trump Tower in New York for his arrival. Picture: Stefani Reynolds/AFP

After stepping off the plane, Mr Trump quickly entered one of the dark-coloured SUVs waiting on the tarmac. The motorcade then headed to Trump Tower in Manhattan, where a small crowd of supporters were gathering.

A stern-looking Mr Trump waved to the crowd as he walked briskly into the building.

Mr Trump will spend the night in his penthouse in Trump Tower, where he is expected to meet with lawyers and political advisers before he turns himself into authorities on Tuesday.

After he turns himself in, expected to be around midday on Tuesday, the former president will attend arraignment in court before swiftly returning to Florida.

He intends to make a statement from his residence, Mar-a-Lago, in the evening.

A policeman waves at former US President Donald Trump as he arrives at Palm Beach International Airport in West Palm Beach, Florida. Picture: Chandan Khanna / AFP

Mr Trump, who is currently a candidate to regain the presidency, is reportedly facing more than 30 charges related to business fraud, though the indictment remains under seal.

The Manhattan District-Attorney’s office has been investigating him for allegedly orchestrating a plot to pay hush money to adult film actor Stormy Daniels before the 2016 election.

‘Circus’

Mr Trump is the first former president of the United States to face criminal charges. Most other activity in the Manhattan court, including all trials, will be suspended to accommodate his presence on Tuesday.

Donald Trump. Picture: Eva Marie Uzcategui/AFP

The courthouse will be secured by the Secret Service, which is still responsible for Mr Trump’s protection, and the New York Police Department.

On Monday, lawyers for Mr Trump told a judge in New York they opposed any moves by media firms to televise the arraignment of the former president as it would create a “circus”.

“The media request should be denied because it will create a circus-like atmosphere at the arraignment, raise unique security concerns, and is inconsistent with President Trump’s presumption of innocence,” a letter to the court stated.

The motorcade of former US president Donald Trump leaving the Mar-a-Lago Club in Palm Beach en route the airport, Florida, on April 3, 2023. (Photo by Gianrigo MARLETTA / AFP)

Donald Trump leaving Florida for New York City

Mr Trump is expected to show up at the office of District Attorney Alvin Bragg, which is also inside the courthouse, in the afternoon. It is unknown whether a mugshot will be taken, but he will be booked and authorities will record his fingerprints.

After that, Mr Trump will be taken to a courtroom for his arraignment, where the charges against him will be read. His lawyers have indicated he will plead not guilty.

As a famous face with a negligible flight risk, given he is constantly surrounded by the Secret Service, Mr Trump will be released and allowed to leave New York.

He is expected to give a speech from Mar-a-Lago shortly after 6pm, local time.

District Attorney Alvin Bragg, whose office is bringing the charges against Mr Trump. Picture: Kena Betancur/Getty Images/AFP

The charges against Mr Trump are believed to concern the alleged hush money payments to Ms Daniels. The former president’s personal lawyer, Michael Cohen, was already convicted of violating campaign finance laws by paying the adult film actor $US130,000 to keep quiet about an affair with Mr Trump before the election against Hillary Clinton in 2016.

Cohen, who is now an outspoken critic of his one-time boss, has long alleged he was directed to make the payments “in co-ordination with and at the direction of” Mr Trump.

The former president denies any wrongdoing, has always insisted there was no affair with Ms Daniels, and has said the payments were intended to stop her from making “false and extortionist accusations”.

Prosecutors in the Cohen case alleged he paid Ms Daniels himself and was subsequently reimbursed via the Trump Organisation, with the payments disguised as routine legal expenses. They said there was no real legal retainer agreement, as the invoices Cohen submitted were not connected to any legal services he had provided.

Because the payments to Ms Daniels were alleged to have been carried out for political gain (to protect Mr Trump from negative stories about his personal life), prosecutors argued they were campaign contributions. And because they were not disclosed as such, the payments violated campaign finance laws.

Cohen was convicted in 2018. Federal prosecutors chose not to pursue Mr Trump, leaving the Manhattan District Attorney’s office to investigate him at state level.

Stormy Daniels maintains she had a sexual relationship with Mr Trump. He continues to deny any such relationship took place. Picture: Robyn Beck/AFP

Michael Cohen. Picture: Alex Wong/Getty Images/AFP

In recent weeks, Mr Trump has repeatedly attacked the District Attorney, Mr Bragg, and accused him of political bias. He’s also lashed out at Judge Juan Merchan, who will oversee the case, accusing the judge of “hating” him.

Mr Bragg responded to Republican assertions that his investigation was a politically motivated “witch hunt” in a letter to members of Congress.

“Like any other defendant, M. Trump is entitled to challenge these charges in court and avail himself of all processes and protections that New York’s robust criminal procedure affords,” he wrote.

“What neither Mr Trump nor Congress may do is interfere with the ordinary course of proceedings in New York State.”

Writing to staff in his own office, Mr Bragg said prosecutors would not be “intimidated”.

The New York indictment is one of several legal headaches for Mr Trump, who is also being investigated by the Justice Department over his role in the January 6, 2021 riot at the Capitol Building in Washington D.C., and over his handling of classified government documents after leaving office.

In addition, he is being investigated by the District-Attorney’s office in Fulton County, Georgia, over his actions in the wake of the 2020 election. Mr Trump pressured election officials to declare him the state’s winner, despite his defeat to Joe Biden there.

Originally published as Donald Trump heads to New York, where he will turn himself in to authorities to face prosecution