Donald Trump has been spotted mingling with the public on his way to his New York criminal trial, with MAGA members of the crowd chanting "we want Trump" and "USA".
A large group gathered ahead of work at approximately 6.35am (ET) to welcome the former US president, as they pressed up against the barricade near near the Manhattan-based courthouse on Thursday morning. Sporting a pressed blue suit, red tie and a toothy grin, the 77-year-old stopped to pose for photographs, shake fans' hands and sign a sea of red 'Make American Great Again' caps, as he was surrounded by his security entourage.
Barely heard by television microphones over pro-Trump chanting, the Republican stopped to speak to reporters and commented on the "amazing show of affection" from his fans. Trump's ongoing hush-money trial comes as the US supreme court is set to hear arguments in the ex-president's appeal in his federal election subversion case in Washington DC, as he claims presidents are immune from prosecution for actions committed in office.
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"We have a big case today: the Supreme Court on presidential immunity. A president has to have immunity. If you don't have immunity, you'll just have a ceremonial president," Trump told the New York City press circus live on Thursday morning, leaning in to hear their questions shrouded by shouts of "USA".
Last year, Special Counsel Jack Smith brought a four-count federal indictment against the former president, accusing him of trying to overturn his defeat to Joe Biden in the 2020 presidential election. He claimed Trump allegedly made false claims of election fraud, tried to install fake electors and pressured Mike Pence, the former vice president, to decertify election results.
Smith, however, argues that “presidents are not above the law”. Experts in constitutional law seemingly side with Smith as Trump seeks to delay all four of his criminal cases in the hope that he regains power and can have them thrown out.
Trump's lawyers and Smith will go head to head in a hearing in Washington DC on whether former presidents have immunity from criminal prosecution for actions they take while in office. In briefs to the court, his lawyers said that “a denial of criminal immunity would incapacitate every future president”.
If the nine justices of the Supreme Court rule that Trump can be prosecuted, the trial will move forward – most likely restarting deep in presidential election season in the late summer. However, if the court rules that Trump does indeed have immunity, other criminal cases against him may be dismissed.
It comes as Donald Trump returns to Manhattan Criminal Court for his ongoing hush-money case, concerning alleged payments of $130,000 made to porn star Stormy Daniels to quash damaging claims ahead of his 2016 presidential run.
Further testimony is expected to be heard from the prosecution's first witness, David Pecker, the former publisher of the National Enquirer. He testified that he used his position to help Trump suppress negative stories that threatened his campaign - a tactic described as "catch-and-kill".
However, when asked about the tabloid publisher, Trump told reporters on Thursday that "David’s been very nice, a nice guy".