'This is an assault on America': Trump rages at the 'nonsense' hush-money case and says he is 'HONORED' to be in Manhattan court to defend himself against a 'political persecution'

​​Donald Trump said when arriving at the courthouse in Manhattan on Monday for the first criminal trial against him that the charges are 'an assault on America.'

The former president left his Trump Tower home on Monday to prepare for the start of jury selection in his historic first criminal trial alleging he falsified documents related to his hush money payment to porn star Stormy Daniels.

Trump said he was 'honored' and 'proud' to be facing the charges and appearing in court on Monday for the start of jury selection.

Before leaving to make the four-mile drive downtown, Trump went on a social media rant where he accused Democrats of using the hush money case as a political weapon to keep him sitting in a courtroom and spending money instead of being out on the campaign trail.

'People that don't necessarily follow or like Donald Trump said this is an outrage that this case was brought,' Trump lamented before entering the court room on Monday. 'This is political persecution, this is a persecution like never before.'

Donald Trump appears in Manhattan court for the first criminal case against him alleging he falsified documents related to hush money payments made to porn star Stormy Daniels 

Trump raises a fist as he arrives in Manhattan criminal court with his legal team for day one of the hush money trial on Monday, April 15 in New York City as jury selection commences

He continued: 'It's an assault on America and that's why I'm very proud to be here. This is an assault on our country – and it's a country that's failing. It's a country that's run by an incompetent man that's very much involved in this case.'

'This is really an attack on a political opponent,' Trump said. 'That's all it is, so I'm very honored to be here.'

The 77-year-old is appearing in Manhattan criminal courthouse for day one of the trial as jury selection commences in the historic criminal prosecution of a former president who is currently running for another term in 2024.

The case stems from allegation the former president falsified business records in payments made to porn star Stormy Daniels to keep quiet about their affair comes

Just hours ahead of the trial kicking-off on Monday, he took to Truth Social to rail about all aspects of the case and lamented he was stripped of his voice after he was put under a gag order. 

He also said Democrats' involvement in bringing the series of lawsuits against him is a way of interfering in the 2024 presidential election and preventing him from campaigning.

Trump pleaded not guilty to falsifying business records to cover up 'hush money' payments to porn star Stormy Daniels– made for her to keep quiet about their affair before the 2016 presidential election. 

Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg arrives at Manhattan Criminal Court ahead of Day One of former President Trump's trial

Former President Trump waves to supporters and media gathered as he leaves Trump Tower in Manhattan on Monday morning to appear for jury selection in the Stormy Daniels hush money trial in New York criminal court

Jury selection for the case begins on Monday and prospective jurors will be asked at least 42 questions ranging from their views on extreme groups like Antifa and QAnon and how they consume their news.

Meanwhile, both pro and anti-Trump demonstrators gathered outside the Manhattan courthouse on Monday morning.

'The Radical Left Democrats are already cheating on the 2024 Presidential Election by bringing, or helping to bring, all of these bogus lawsuits against me,' Trump wrote, 'thereby forcing me to sit in courthouses, and spend money that could be used for campaigning, instead of being out in the field knocking Crooked Joe Biden, the WORST President in the History of the United States.'

He added in the Truth Social post: 'Election Interference!'

'When I walk into that courtroom, I know I will have the love of 200 million Americans behind me, and I will be FIGHTING for the FREEDOM of 325 MILLION AMERICANS!' he wrote in another post. 

Donald Trump is trailed by his legal team when arriving at the Manhattan criminal courthouse on Monday for day one of jury selection

The ex-president leaves Trump Tower to prepare for jury selection in the Stormy Daniels hush money payment case

Anti-Trump demonstrators protest the former president outside the Manhattan Criminal Court on Monday, April 15 as jury selection commences

Just before leaving for the courthouse on Monday, Trump's campaign sent out an email seeking to fundraise off of the criminal prosecutions of the former president.

'THE BIDEN TRIALS ARE UNDERWAY!' the sensational email reads. 'I'm heading to court THIS MORNING for my RIGGED TRIAL, and only YOUR SUPPORT will get me through this dark time.'

Trump's message to his supporters continued: 'BECAUSE OF YOU, I WILL NEVER SURRENDER!'

The email takes supporters to survey, which prompts MAGA fanatics to donate $20.24 or $47 to the former president's 2024 reelection efforts.

New York Judge Juan M. Merchan issued a gag order last month that barred Trump from publicly speaking about witnesses, prosecutors, court staff and jurors in the trial.

Merchan cited the former president's pattern of issuing 'threatening, inflammatory, denigrating' statements about people involved in legal cases against him.

'I want my VOICE back,' Trump posted on his social media site on Monday before the trial, where he plans to take the stand.

A Trump supporter holds a flag backing the former president's reelection outside the Manhattan Criminal Courthouse on Monday ahead of his arrival

Anti-Trump demonstrators with large banners stand outside the Manhattan Criminal Court House at 100 Centre Street in New York City on Monday awaiting the former president's arrival

Trump posted in a Truth Social rant on Monday morning that the trials against him are Democrats 'cheating' in the 2024 presidential election by keeping him sitting in a court room and spending money on the cases instead of campaigning

Law enforcement stand guard outside Manhattan Criminal Court House on Monday ahead of Donald Trump's arrival for day one of the Stormy Daniels hush money trial

'This Crooked Judge has GAGGED me,' the former president and 2024 candidate continued. 'Unconstitutional! The other side can talk about me, but I am not allowed to talk about them! Rigged Trial!'

Trump claimed in a separate post that 'virtually every legal scholar' believes the hush money case should no longer be pursued because it falls outside the statute of limitations.

'This 'trial' should be ended by the highly conflicted presiding Judge,' he insisted.

'Why didn't they bring this totally discredited lawsuit 7 years ago??? Election Interference!' the former president added.

Jury selection is bound to kick off at least several days of intensive questioning for the individuals who will determine Trump's fate in the case.

Judge Merchan publicized a list of 42 questions he plans to quiz prospective jurors about in attempts to ensure an unbiased trial, including any connections they may have to the former president's political circles.

Questions will include whether the citizens have any links or views on radical groups like Antifa and QAnon as well as where they get their news and whether they've ever attended political rallies for the former president.

Both sides of the case are under a ton of pressure to select a jury that will be perceived as fair - or else risk a mistrial down the line. 

Camera crews and media set up outside the court house on Day One of the Stormy Daniels hush money trial

Trump railed against the gag order that prevents him from talking about people involved in the hush money trial