Former President Donald Trump has pleaded not guilty to 34 felony counts of falsifying business records, after being indicted by a Manhattan grand jury last week.
He is the first former U.S. president to be indicted.
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In his closing remarks, former President Donald Trump said there is a "very dark cloud over our beloved country."
He addressed the crowd for about 25 minutes.
Former President Donald Trump has started his address at his Mar-a-Lago estate, hours after he was arraigned on criminal charges.
"God bless you all. I never thought anything like this could happen in America," were Trump's first words.
Trump claimed the "fake case" was brought "only to interfere with the upcoming 2024 election" and said it should be "dropped immediately."
Some members of Donald Trump's family just entered the Mar-a-Lago ballroom for the former president's remarks.
Trump's son Donald Trump Jr., with Kimberly Guilfoyle, and his daughter Tiffany Trump entered the room to loud applause from the crowd.
-ABC News' Will Steakin
Former President Donald Trump was still revising his speech less than an hour before his scheduled remarks at 8:15 p.m. ET, sources said.
Sources said he spent the entire flight to Florida working on his speech. While his remarks are expected to be in a teleprompter, aides are preparing for him to go off script.
Sources described Trump's mood as "determined, resolute and up for the challenge," though that he was also "angry" leaving court this afternoon.
-ABC News' Katherine Faulders, John Santucci and Rachel Scott
Former President Donald Trump has pleaded not guilty to 34 felony counts of falsifying business records, according to a source in the courtroom. Trump entered the not guilty plea himself, sources said.
Trump waited in the courtroom for at least five minutes before Judge Juan Merchan arrived, and rose when the judge said, “all rise.”
“Let’s arraign Mr. Trump, please," Merchan said.
Trump spoke quietly when he addressed the judge, including when he entered his not guilty plea.
Prosecutors asked for a protective order on the discovery materials, which would prevent Trump from disseminating those records.
Todd Blanche, Trump’s new defense attorney, at one point said, “I didn’t realize we were going to be giving opening statements.”
Blanche said Trump was “frustrated” and “upset” and had a right to express his views publicly.
The judge said he was not going to enact a gag order.
-ABC News' Katherine Faulders, Olivia Rubin, Laura Romero and John Santucci
