Former US President Donald Trump arrested in New York

Former US president Donald Trump was formally arrested after his arrival at a New York courthouse where he will become the first former US president to face criminal charges.

Trump, the front-runner for the 2024 Republican nomination, entered a Manhattan courtroom to be formally charged on Tuesday as his supporters noisily rallied outside.

Wearing a dark blue suit and red tie, 76 years old Trump showed little emotion on his face as he waved to a crowd outside the courthouse after he was driven in a motorcade from his New York residence at Trump Tower.

BREAKING: Donald Trump is now under arrest in New York City ahead of his arraignment in court https://t.co/0NxzuxZt8I pic.twitter.com/9sdFFunjcM

— CNN (@CNN) April 4, 2023

Trump posted on social media from his motorcade: "Heading to Lower Manhattan, the Courthouse. Seems so SURREAL - WOW, they are going to ARREST ME. Can't believe this is happening in America."

Trump was due to surrender to the office of Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg before an arraignment proceeding before Justice Juan Merchan. At an arraignment, a defendant hears charges and can enter a plea. Trump was fingerprinted but no mugshot photo was taken.

BREAKING: The first image of Trump in the Manhattan courtroom has been released. Welcome to New York Donald Trump. pic.twitter.com/yVCyv50weJ

— Ed Krassenstein (@EdKrassen) April 4, 2023

In other social media posts ahead of the arraignment, Trump renewed his attacks on Merchan, who last year presided over a trial in which Trump's real estate company was convicted of tax fraud.

Trump, who served as president from 2017 to 2021, in November announced a bid to regain the presidency in 2024 in a bid to deny Democratic President Joe Biden, who beat him in 2020, a second term in the White House.