With his anticipated surrender to authorities in Manhattan on Tuesday, Donald Trump, immediate past U.S. president, has led America into uncharted terrain as this would be the first time a former president would appear as a criminal defendant in court.

A grand jury in Manhattan last week indicted Mr Trump over his alleged involvement in the payment of hush money to porn star, Stormy Daniels, towards the end of his presidential campaign in 2016.

The former U.S. leader will be taken into brief custody where he will be fingerprinted and most likely have his mug shot taken. There are, however, debates on whether he will be handcuffed and have his mug shot publicised, if taken at all.

Security at the courthouse will be tight and coordinated by the U.S. Secret Service, the New York City Police Department, and court security because the case involves an ex-president and is therefore, a matter of national interest.

The New York Times published a report early Tuesday morning stating that hundreds of journalists had gathered at the “criminal courthouse on Centre Street in Lower Manhattan,” where Mr Trump was scheduled to appear later in the day.

On November 15, 2022, Mr Trump announced his campaign for a non-consecutive second presidential term in a speech at Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach, Florida.