Donald Trump has given a defiant address to his supporters after becoming the first former US president to face a criminal charges
Trump pleaded not guilty to 34 criminal charges during a historic court hearing in New York on Tuesday
He returned to Florida immediately after where he told an audience that the case was "an insult to our country"
"Our country is going to hell," he said, listing all the ways that he claims to have been persecuted
Trump also lashed out at the judge and prosecutors and claimed the case against him was politically-motivated
The 2024 White House contender is accused of falsifying business records to cover up hush payments to two women during his 2016 election run
Trump's team will have until August to file any motions against the case. The next court hearing is set for December
Our colleagues on the Americast podcast have just pushed out an emergency episode documenting today's action.
The North America team talk through Trump’s historic day in court and answer listener questions on what the next steps are.
Kayla Epstein
Senior reporter, New York
Image source, Getty ImagesI sat five rows directly behind the former president, in a group of journalists watched over by more than a dozen police officers. We were banned from using our phones or laptops in court.
Trump's expression was sombre as he entered the room and his steps seemed heavy and slow as he walked down the centre aisle to take his place at the front, where his defence attorneys waited.
When Judge Juan Merchan arrived, everyone rose for him, including Trump. Despite the media and political circus going on outside the room, Judge Merchan presided over the hearing with an even tone, never raising his voice.
The hearing mostly dealt with procedural matters, including the next court date and deadlines for the lawyers. But the weight of its significance was lost on no-one in the room.
Read more: Inside the courtroom as Donald Trump heard the charges against him
Image source, ReutersThe ex-president pleaded not guilty to all 34 charges of business fraud in the court room.
His lawyer, Todd Blanche said: "We're going to fight it, we're going to fight it hard."
Judge Merchan gave Trump's lawyers until 8 August to file any motions - such as a potential motion to have the case struck out.
The charges against Trump are all Class E felonies - the lowest category of felony offence. They carry a maximum sentence of four years.
But legal experts say Trump - if convicted - would most likely be fined. They say time behind bars would be unlikely.
Here's how the former US president's day in court unfolded earlier:
Image source, Getty ImagesDonald Trump in court with his lawyers, including Todd Blanche (far left) and Susan Necheles (second from left)
We've been recapping Trump's response to the charges laid against him.
At his arraignment - initial hearing - earlier today in a New York courtroom, the ex-president pleaded not guilty to 34 counts of falsifying business records.
Here's a quick recap of his trip to New York and what that looked like:
Donald Trump's historic arraignment day in 60 seconds
Image source, Getty ImagesTrump was surrounded by members of his inner circle when he returned from the New York courtroom to Mar-a-Lago to deliver his first public remarks on the case.
The crowd included his children Donald Trump Jr., Tiffany Trump, and Eric Trump. But his wife Melania was not seen in the ballroom.
Republican lawmakers and stauch supporters, Marjorie Taylor Greene (Georgia), Matt Gaetz (Florida), and Ronny Jackson (Texas) were also there cheering him on.
Image source, EPAThe crowd of supporters at Mar-a-Lago
Image source, EPAHundreds also lined the street, cheering on as his motorcade returned to his residence.
Image source, Getty ImagesSome Democrats have cast the day in a sombre light.
California Congressman Adam Schiff, who helped lead impeachment hearings in the past against Trump, called the arrest "tragic" but added it was "necessary".
Congressman Mike Levin called it a "sad day" and "not a time to celebrate".
"This is not a time to further divide," he added.
New York Representative Jerry Nadler said the "indictment seems methodical and well-reasoned”.
Meanwhile, the White House has steered clear of commenting on the case.
“I think the American people should feel reassured that, when there is an ongoing case like this one, we’re just not commenting,” White House spokeswoman Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters in a regular press briefing on Tuesday.
Reality Check
Tonight Donald Trump said “every single pundit and legal analyst said there is no case”.
He didn’t name any specifically, but even allowing for exaggeration, the claim is clearly not true.
There’s a wide range of opinion about the case. Some legal experts say it will be hard for prosecutors to prove the former president committed a felony.
Randy Zelin, a Cornell Law School professor, told CBS New, external the prosecution could face significant hurdles in convincing a jury that Trump intended to commit or conceal another crime when he allegedly falsified business records.
But others think the case against Mr Trump is a pretty strong one.
For example, two legal analysts writing in the New York Times, external noted: “The creation of phony documentation to cover up campaign finance violations has been repeatedly prosecuted in New York. That is exactly what Mr. Trump stands accused of.
“The judge and jury will make the ultimate determination, but they will be far from the first to consider this question, and the answer has usually been a guilty verdict.”
Reporting by Jake Horton
Image source, Getty ImagesThe adult film star whose hush money payment led to Tuesday's charges has been ordered to pay nearly $122,000 (£97,000) to cover Trump's legal fees from a 2018 failed defamation case against him.
Stormy Daniels sued Trump after he claimed that she falsified a story she told about a man threatening her and her child if she did not "leave Trump alone".
Daniels had argued that the case had been filed by her lawyer, Michael Avenatti, without her permission. Avenatti is currently in a federal prison for stealing from his clients.
But an appeals court in Los Angeles on Tuesday ruled against her, only hours after Trump was arrested in New York.
In March 2022, Daniels was ordered to pay around $300,000 to Trump for legal fees incurred during the same civil case.
Two of Trump's children cheered the court's ruling on Tuesday.
"LOL glad she’s out there saying her T-shirt sales are booming she’ll be able to afford to pay Trump!" Donald Trump Jr said in a tweet.
If you're joining us now, we just watched the former president address a crowd in Mar-a-Lago in a roughly 25-minute speech.
These were his first public remarks since his arrest earlier on Tuesday.
Trump repeated many of his campaign talking points and argued that he has been the victim of a Democratic conspiracy to tank his re-election bid.
Image source, ReutersNew York County District Attorney Alvin Bragg
"The real criminal is the district attorney because he illegally leaked," Trump says about Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg.
He says that the leaking of information to the press should lead to his prosecution or at the very least his resignation.
He goes on to condemn a tweet from Bragg's wife saying that the charges will "nail" Trump.
"She has since locked down her Twitter account," he claims.
He also attacks the judge's family, saying: "I have a Trump-hating judge with a Trump-hating family, whose daughter worked for Kamala Harris."
This is not the first time that Trump has criticised the judge overseeing his case.
Read more about Judge Juan Merchan here.
And with that, Trump's remarks are over.
In his speech, Trump quoted unnamed analysts who have said there is not strong evidence again him.
"Every single pundit and legal analyst said there is no case," Trump told the crowd.
He said that when he was indicted, his lawyers told him "there's nothing here, they're not even saying what you did."
And perhaps the biggest blow for Trump in all of this is that the charges have come in New York City, the city he helped build, and which built him.
"So here we are now, in a city that was so gracious 4 or 5 years ago," he said.
His only crime? Defending America, Trump says
The first few minutes of Trump's speech will sound familiar to anyone who has heard his campaign stump speech before.
He lists all the ways that he says he has been persecuted since launching his 2016 campaign all those years ago, without providing any evidence.
He describes the two times he was impeached - a historic first for any president - as "hoaxes".
He then mentions the 2022 FBI raid to recover sensitive government documents at the Mar-a-Lago estate. The crowd boos as he mentions the raid.
"Our country is going to hell," he says.
“It’s an insult to our country as the world is already laughing at us.”
In his first public remarks since being charged with 34 felony counts related to business fraud Trump said: "The only crime I have committed is to fearlessly defend our nation from those who seek to destroy it".
Listing the litany of political and legal accusations that have been levied against him over the years, Trump chalked the charges up to just another partisan attack.
Image source, ReutersTrump has just entered the ballroom at Mar-a-Lago and is taking the stage after shaking hands with supporters.
During his trip to New York today he made no public remarks, despite the throngs of media following his every movement.
Let's hear what he has to say - watch live at the top of the page.
Trump is back at his Florida home - the golf club Mar-a-Lago - and is expected to make remarks in the next few minutes.
He is surrounded by family members and supporters in the ballroom. The Manhattan judge did not impose a gag order, leaving many wondering what he might say about the charges and his arrest earlier today.
Stay with us, as we we bring you live updates from his speech.
You can watch live on BBC News by clicking on the arrow at this top of this page.
Image source, ReutersA Trump supporter in the Mar-a-Lago ballroom
Barbara Plett Usher
Reporting from Palm Beach, Florida
Image source, Getty ImagesThe ballroom is buzzing with Trump supporters waiting for him to arrive.
They just chanted a welcome to Kari Lake - the former candidate for Arizona governor who’s been called the female Trump and said to be a possible running mate.
Among those present are members of Mar-a-Lago and their guests, campaign workers, the group Bikers for Trump, and conservative podcasters.
I spoke with a woman in a glamorous pink dress who used to work for the shopping channel and to a figure skating teacher who missed seeing Trump’s courtroom appearance because she was on the ice.
All say they’re certain the indictment is a travesty of justice aimed at sinking Trump politically.
They are equally certain it will only boost his political fortunes.
Image source, Getty Images
Mike Wendling
Reporting along Florida State Road A1A
Denise Puri (l) and Katrin Oeser ride their bikes along the Florida coast
To get some reaction away from the media storm I’ve spent today going up and down Florida’s scenic A1A highway, which runs through most communities along the state’s Atlantic coast.
Stopping in a park just after a brief but intense rainstorm, Denise Puri and Katrin Oeser push their bicycles underneath some palm trees.
Denise is a dual US-German citizen and no fan of the former president.
“In our building, we know who’s Democrat and who’s not, because we can talk about politics with the Democrats,” she says.
“Not so much with the other side… but I’m sure his supporters will be excited when he comes back to Florida.”
“Here political discussions are different,” Katrin chips in. “When Americans talk politics, it always seems to lead to an argument.”
Today may be historic, but the pair were not in the mood to sit around watching the news.
“Here it’s so nice, when the sun is shining,” Denise says, casting a glance at the clouds breaking overhead.