On a historic and unprecedented day for America, former president Donald Trump has been arrested and arraigned at a Lower Manhattan courthouse on criminal charges relating to a hush money payment made to adult film star Stormy Daniels.

He pleaded ‘not guilty’ to 34 counts against him before Judge Juan Merchan shortly after 2.40pm, becoming the first current or former US president ever to be charged with a crime.

The felony charges against him relate to falsified business records. Mr Trump was flanked by police in court but was not handcuffed or put in a jail cell, and no mugshot was taken.

Mr Trump flew into New York on Monday aboard his Boeing 757 plane before spending the night at Trump Tower in Manhattan. After Tuesday’s hearing, he flew back to his Mar-a-Lago mansion in Palm Beach, Florida, to deliver a primetime address to supporters.

In a 20-minute grievance-laden speech Mr Trump assailed Judge Merchan’s family as well as District Attorney Alvin Bragg.

MSNBC did not air the speech and both ABC News and CNN dropped the live feed before the end of the former president’s remarks.