Trump indictment updates: Trump speaks out on charges from Mar-a-Lago

Donald Trump is the first former U.S. president to be indicted.

Last Updated: April 4, 2023, 9:29 PM EDT

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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Latest headlines:

Here's how the news developed. All times Eastern.
Apr 04, 2023, 8:52 PM EDT

Trump: 'Very dark cloud over our beloved country'

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 delivers remarks on the day of his court appearance in New York after being indicted by a Manhattan grand jury following a probe into hush money paid to porn star Stormy Daniels, in Palm Beach, Fla., April 4, 2023.
Marco Bello/Reuters

Apr 04, 2023, 8:35 PM EDT

Trump begins speech from Mar-a-Lago

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."

Former President Donald Trump speaks during a press conference following his court appearance over an alleged 'hush-money' payment, at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm Beach, Fla., on April 4, 2023.
Chandan Khanna/AFP via Getty Images

Apr 04, 2023, 8:10 PM EDT

Some Trump family members at Mar-a-Lago for speech

Donald Trump Jr. and Kimberly Guilfoyle attend former president Donald Trump's press conference following his court appearance over an alleged 'hush-money' payment, at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm Beach, Fla., on April 4, 2023.
Chandan Khanna/AFP via Getty Images

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.

Tiffany Trump and her husband Michael Boulos attend former President Donald Trump's press conference following his court appearance over an alleged 'hush-money' payment, at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm Beach, Fla., on April 4, 2023.
Chandan Khanna/AFP via Getty Images

-ABC News' Will Steakin

Apr 04, 2023, 7:58 PM EDT

Trump still revising speech less than an hour before scheduled remarks

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

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