Trump Makes History as Trial Begins in New York

The case will take President Trump off the campaign trail for an expected six to eight weeks.

Former President Donald Trump appears with his legal team Todd Blanche (L) and Emil Bove (R) ahead of the start of jury selection at Manhattan criminal court in New York City on April 15, 2024. Jabin Botsford-Pool/Getty Images

Former President Donald Trump made history on April 15 as the first and only American president to stand trial on criminal charges.

After numerous motions and appeals by the defense to hold off on the trial into the eleventh hour, for reasons ranging from media publicity to a request for the judge to step down, the trial proceeded on the schedule set by New York Supreme Court Justice Juan Merchan.