Former President Trump wasted no time slamming the indictment against him over his alleged mishandling of classified documents but remained as defiant as ever during his first official remarks since he was arraigned in federal court.

"Today we witnessed the most evil and heinous abuse of power in the history of our country. Very sad thing to watch," Trump said in a speech Tuesday evening at his Bedminster club.

"It's a political persecution like something straight out of a fascist or communist nation," he added.

Trump once again falsely claimed that he was able to keep classified documents under the Presidential records act.

"I had every right to have these documents," Trump said.

-ABC News' Lalee Ibssa

Former President Donald Trump's plane landed in Newark, New Jersey.

He will depart to his Bedminster club to greet a host of supporters, GOP donors and other guests.

-ABC News' Darren Reynolds

Former President Donald Trump's plane has departed Miami and is now en route to his golf club in Bedminster, New Jersey, where Trump will address his supporters Tuesday night.

Former President Donald Trump is making a stop at Versailles, a restaurant in Little Havana at the heart of Miami's Cuban exile community.

He was greeted with cheers and shook hands and snapped photos with excited supporters.

Some patrons sang "Happy birthday" to Trump, who turns 77 on Wednesday.

"I think it's going great. I think it's a rigged deal here. We have a rigged country," Trump said in brief remarks.

"We're a nation in decline, and then they do this stuff," Trump said. "You see the crowds and everything else -- we have a country that is in decline like never before, and we can't let it happen."

Trump's aide and co-defendant, Walt Nauta, attended the restaurant stop with the former president.

Over the last few days, Trump's campaign team discussed whether the former president should publicly greet supporters while in Florida, in an effort to show him as tough and resilient, and in a setting outside of court.