Mr. Trump arrives in Florida, preparing to appear in court

Former President Trump has arrived in Miami, preparing to appear in federal court in the city in a prosecution related to his handling of classified documents.

The private plane carrying former President Donald Trump landed in Miami, Florida, at 2:54 p.m. on June 12 (1:54 a.m. on June 13, Hanoi time). He got into a waiting SUV and went to the Trump National Doral golf club. Dozens of supporters gathered at the golf club to welcome him.

Mr. Trump is scheduled to appear in federal court in Miami at 3 p.m. today (2 a.m. June 14, Hanoi time) to hear the indictment and impeachment in the prosecution related to the former president's handling of classified documents.

“I hope the entire country is watching what the radical left is doing to America,” Trump wrote on the social network Truth Social before departing from New Jersey for Florida. The former president also announced that he planned to give a speech on the evening of June 13, when he returned to the state.

Mr. Trump arrives in Florida, preparing to appear in court — Mr. Trump arrived at the airport in Miami, Florida on June 12. Video : *Reuters*

The US Department of Justice on June 9 released a 49-page indictment, which includes 37 charges related to the investigation into Mr. Trump illegally keeping classified documents at his private residence. With this accusation, Mr. Trump became the first former US president to be prosecuted at the federal level.

If convicted under the Espionage Act, the former president faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison. Trump has denied any wrongdoing and has called the investigation politically motivated. Republicans see the investigation as an attempt to thwart the former president's bid for the White House in 2024.

Miami officials have stepped up security in anticipation of unrest surrounding Mr Trump's court appearance. Miami Police Chief Manny Morales said the city had plans in place for crowds of up to 50,000 people and closed downtown streets if necessary.

Mr. Trump became the first former US president to be indicted in late March, in connection with allegations of falsifying business records to pay money to suppress unfavorable information during the 2016 presidential election. When appearing in a New York court in early April, Mr. Trump asserted his "innocence" and denied all charges. A New York judge set the case for trial in March 2024.

Donald Trump is also facing investigations into his role in the Capitol Hill riot in January 2021 and his efforts to change the results of the presidential election in Georgia.

Former President Donald Trump gets off the plane at Miami airport, Florida on June 12. Photo: AFP — Former President Donald Trump gets off the plane at Miami airport, Florida on June 12. Photo: *AFP*

Despite legal scandals, Mr. Trump is still the leading Republican presidential candidate.

A Reuters/Ipsos poll released on June 12 found that 43% of self-identified Republicans still considered Trump their preferred candidate, nearly double the 22% who said they still considered Florida Governor Ron DeSantis their favorite. The figures were 49% and 19% in early May, but that was before DeSantis entered the race.

Mr. Trump accused President Joe Biden of fabricating criminal charges against him to undermine his opponent in the 2024 election. He vowed to appoint a special prosecutor to investigate Mr. Biden's family if re-elected.

Meanwhile, President Biden has always kept his distance from the investigation into Mr. Trump and refused to comment on the matter.