live from washington, this is bbc news. welcome to viewers on pbs in america. tonight, we hearfrom donald trump for the first time since he pleaded not guilty to charges in new york. the only crime that i have committed is to fearlessly defend our nation from those who seek to destroy it. the former president is facing 3a felony criminal charges relating to falsified business records. hello. i'm sumi somaskanda. we start tonight in florida. just a few hours ago, donald trump spoke publicly

for the first time — after becoming the first former us president to ever face criminal charges. these were the crowds of supporters who greeted him at his mar—a—lago estate. he arrived there after pleading not guilty to sa criminal charges at a court hearing in new york. in the speech, he criticised the case against him and repeated the false claims that he'd been cheated out of office in 2020 by voting fraud. let's hearfrom him first. the only crime that i have committed is to fearlessly defend our nation from those who seek to destroy it. from the beginning, the democrats spied on my campaign, remember that? they attacked me with an onslaught of fraudulent investigations, russia, russia, russia, ukraine, ukraine, ukraine. impeachment hugs number one. impeachment oats number one. impeachment oats number two. the illegal and

unconstitutional raid on mar—a—lago, right here. —— hoax. live now to michelle fleury in new york. she has been covering the entire day of events for us there. take us through what we saw in new york today. it there. take us through what we saw in new york today.- saw in new york today. it was unfike saw in new york today. it was unlike anything _ saw in new york today. it was unlike anything we _ saw in new york today. it was unlike anything we have - saw in new york today. it was unlike anything we have ever| unlike anything we have ever seen before. donald trump making the trip from trump tower down to lower manhattan to the courthouse, where he surrendered himself and was effectively under arrest well being process. then there was the arraignment when we finally lent the charges against donald trump. 3a lent the charges against donald trump. 34judges, all relating to the falsification of business documents. something that the district attorney alvin bragg says new york takes very seriously, in part because it is the home of wall street, and it said it is important that these laws kind of underpin that, the idea that it is a safe place to do business.

but this is at another level, in part because he isn'tjust going up to donald trump for misdemeanours, but we're talking about felonies coming here, which are a serious crime. it is also the part of this puzzle that makes it a little legally harder to prove because it involves campaign finance laws and a federal level in a case that is being brought in the state level. all of this, i think, it is worth remembering, you know, donald trump, known for his bravado, was looking notably sombre, but all of that changed when he was backin all of that changed when he was back in his adopted home of florida, looking far more comfortable on familiar territory when it came to effectively giving what felt like a political speech. indeed. that change but a bit, michelle. give us an idea about where things go from now for this trial. the next appearances - this trial. the next appearances in - this trial. the next - appearances in december this trial. the next _ appearances in december and as per new york law, donald trump is required to attend. he isn't

necessarily going to have to appear at every single future meeting. there are occasions when his lawyers can go ahead without him if there are certain motions. but thejudge made it clear that he expected donald trump to appear in december and at that .i would assume that his legal team will be pushing forward a host of motions — perhaps it has to do with getting the case thrown out altogether, perhaps about moving location. we don't know if this stage. there are plenty of options on the table, too, but those are some of the things that people have been floating as something to watch out for. then on the district attorney's side, they need to go about building a case. we got a flavour of it in today's indictment. they also issued with it the statement of facts that kind of shed more light on where they are coming from. but they still have to sort of build more of a case and reveal more information, more evidence. more information, more evidence-— more information, more evidence. michelle fleury reporting _ evidence. michelle fleury reporting there _

evidence. michelle fleury reporting there in - evidence. michelle fleury reporting there in new i evidence. michelle fleury i reporting there in new york. thank you michelle. and with me here in studio is our us correspondent katty kay, bryan lanza, formerly the communications director on donald trump's transition team and the third guest we have had with us tonight is stephanie rollins break mayor of baltimore. she has been listening into this with us. —— stephanie rawlings—blake. we stephanie rawlings—bla ke. we know stephanie rawlings—blake. we know that donald trump's next court date is in december. what happens to now and then for donald trump? his happens to now and then for donald trump?— happens to now and then for donald trump? his team will be comilin: donald trump? his team will be compiling all — donald trump? his team will be compiling all of _ donald trump? his team will be compiling all of the _ donald trump? his team will be compiling all of the defence - compiling all of the defence and the prosecution will be doing theirjob on their side as well. it is unlikely that we will hear very much from this case but there are three other investigations ongoing into the former president and it is possible that between now and december one of those may come also back with an indictment against him and most of the

lawyers that i speak to think that all of those three cases are actually more serious, potentially, carry more jeopardy for donald trump, then this particular case around the house 20 payments stopped and it is even possible that one of those cases could come to trial before this one. so whatever happens in this legal case, that isn't the end of donald trump's legal problems, potentially.— trump's legal problems, otentiall . �* ., ., potentially. and what about the olitical potentially. and what about the political landscape, _ potentially. and what about the political landscape, bryan? - potentially. and what about the political landscape, bryan? it. political landscape, bryan? it isjust beginning. i think donald trump's campaign is doing a good job of painting this is a political witch—hunt, as political targeting. and they will have a lot of success that it will be bipartisan success. you have seen in public opinion polling right now that the majority of people feel that he is being politically targeted, including democrats, independents, and republicans. we will see it get wrapped up more, but i think

the president does benefit from the president does benefit from the fact that in this particular case there is no new hearing until december. that's nothing but six months ofjust railing against — railing against the prosecution. stephanie, do you think donald trump is one the opinion was? he is definitely fighting the public opinion was. that is where he can make, i think, his best case. but as i think about it, you know, i really feel like, you know, the prosecution, and notjust in this case but the other case have really won the day. because donald trump really tried to set this up to be a repeat of january six. tried to set this up to be a repeat ofjanuary six. he tried to set this up to be a repeat of january six. he tried to, you know, would have his base to really show up and show out him being indicted in, you know, processed and all those of the things. that really didn't happen. you saw a few protesters in different places but not to show that he really

wanted from his base. my hope is that the other prosecutors that are looking at whether it is january six of the georgia case, can see with what happened today that, you know, you can go forward with a case in the world will go on. you don't have to fear that your jurisdiction will be brought to its knees by protesters. they just isn't going to happen. what do you think of that, bryan? i what do you think of that, b an? ~' ,., , what do you think of that, b an? ~ , ., , ., bryan? i think so. there is a lot happening- _ bryan? i think so. there is a lot happening. this - bryan? i think so. there is a lot happening. this base - bryan? i think so. there is a | lot happening. this base will be there for him to do so. his supporters will continue to do what they are going to do. but i think donald trump with this message of the selection, being prosecuted, that is going to be the loudest message that penetrates and there will be a lot of subsequent messages that come out. but what has garnered his devotion from his supporters is not only are they targeting me, but targeting me so they can target year, and we need to fight now. and that

sort of washes everything. even if there is another prosecution dubbed the line it is going to be under the filter of the manhattan da, which is how everyone will see these political prosecutions against donald trump. so you can have a strong january six case, a strong january six case, a strong documents case about the classified documents, you can have a strong full county case, but he has painted what the prosecution looks like now until the election and he will reinforce that message. [30 until the election and he will reinforce that message. do you think this is — reinforce that message. do you think this is a _ reinforce that message. do you think this is a strong _ reinforce that message. do you think this is a strong case, - think this is a strong case, stephanie, if donald trump's team was looking to dismiss this eventually?— team was looking to dismiss this eventually? they will move to dismiss _ this eventually? they will move to dismiss it, _ this eventually? they will move to dismiss it, that _ this eventually? they will move to dismiss it, that is _ this eventually? they will move to dismiss it, that is regular - to dismiss it, that is regular court procedure. case procedure. but i think it is a pretty straightforward case. when alvin bragg talked about the rule of law being important in new york, i kept thinking about the case of martha stewart and howard everyone first heard about it they were like, you know, everybody is doing this, there is no way she was going down, and she did

five or six months injail. why? because in some cases, in new york, they uses big figures as a warning to others that, you know, we're watching you, the rule of law is important. the way we conduct business in new york is important. it is our reputation. so when i look at what the indictment holds, it is pretty straightforward. and really, you know, at times he doesn't even deny some of the underlying factors, which i think is — it is dangerous. what happens at the end in terms of if he is found guilty what is the i don't know. but he needs to taken seriously as it is pretty cut and dry. has this sent — it is pretty cut and dry. has this sent a _ it is pretty cut and dry. has this sent a message, - it is pretty cut and dry. has this sent a message, katty? it is pretty cut and dry. has - this sent a message, katty? to this sent a message, katty? trr donald trump because like was more subdued when he went into the courtroom. and i think anyone who has been arrested need to take that seriously.

——2 donald trump? ——we saw he was more subdued. donald trump's supporters are saying that there is no case. even some of his critics are saying that it some of his critics are saying thatitis some of his critics are saying that it is an overreach. that doesn't mean we know how this will end. we don't know if you will end. we don't know if you will be found guilty or not guilty. the only way we will find that art is by having some patience in waiting for the court proceeding to take its course stuck court proceeding to take its course stud— court proceeding to take its course stuck does that mean that donald _ course stuck does that mean that donald trump's - course stuck does that mean that donald trump's team i course stuck does that mean that donald trump's team is | that donald trump's team is still worried about what will unfold? i still worried about what will unfold? ., ._ , unfold? i did there always worried about _ unfold? i did there always worried about what - unfold? i did there always worried about what is - unfold? i did there always worried about what is by l unfold? i did there always - worried about what is by door. i had every door, there is dynamite, the team used to say. there is dynamite behind every door in this proceeding. we will find out how the explosion looks, is it minor or big? none of it is easy. i looks, is it minor or big? none of it is easy-— of it is easy. i want your take on something _ of it is easy. i want your take on something as _ of it is easy. i want your take on something as we - of it is easy. i want your take on something as we have - of it is easy. i want your take on something as we have ofl of it is easy. i want your take i on something as we have of the former president tonight. he said that the charges as announced by alvin bragg, the district attorney, mentioned in that speech.

district attorney, mentioned in that speech-— district attorney, mentioned in that speech. our elections were like those _ that speech. our elections were like those of _ that speech. our elections were like those of a _ that speech. our elections were like those of a third _ that speech. our elections were like those of a third world - like those of a third world country. another submissive election interference is ata is at a scale we have never seen before in this country, beginning with the radical left, alvin bragg of new york, george soros. alvin bragg who campaigned on the fact that he would get the president — "i'm going to get him" — this is a guy campaigning. going to get him" - this is a guy campaigning. stephanie, what are your _ guy campaigning. stephanie, what are your thoughts - guy campaigning. stephanie, what are your thoughts on i guy campaigning. stephanie, i what are your thoughts on what we heard from donald trump their? he was very careful in what he said about the case. again he mentioned what he had been saying all along, that this is a political witch—hunt, as he is called it. this is a political witch-hunt, as he is called it.— this is a political witch-hunt, as he is called it. what i hear him saying — as he is called it. what i hear him saying is _ as he is called it. what i hear him saying is that _ as he is called it. what i hear him saying is that dog - as he is called it. what i hear| him saying is that dog whistle of anti—semitism. the wing of his party that always injects

or interjects george soros' name into any argument or any issue that comes up. these are the same ones that are blaming the same ones that are blaming the jewish population for all of the world's problems. so it really surprised me when i heard him say that, because it is the little nod to qanon that incisive fringe elements of his party, the ones that are dangerous. and i really hoped we wouldn't hear that because i think sometimes he plays fast and loose and thinks that, you know, these people won't react. and we have seen time and time again itjust takes one person who is unhinged, unwell, to listen to his words and do something really dangerous. and thatis something really dangerous. and that is why when i heard today that is why when i heard today that his children were targeting notjust alvin bragg and his wife but also his children, that really made me sick to my stomach, because we deserve better in this country.

what you make of those attacks, bryan? i what you make of those attacks, b an? ., ., ., bryan? i would say that donald trum's bryan? i would say that donald trumio's kids — bryan? i would say that donald trump's kids have _ bryan? i would say that donald trump's kids have been - bryan? i would say that donald i trump's kids have been attacked ljy trump's kids have been attacked by any others in political history. does donaldjr by any others in political history. does donald jr have the right to push those attacks on somebody else because lachy has the right to do it, but no—one can claim that those kids — they received anthrax ship to their home in envelopes, images of them — father decapitated. i think if donald trump's kids want to push back, it is their right, but i don't think it is necessarily the right way to 90, necessarily the right way to go, but if we are talking about kids being attacked, i think that his kids have been attacked more than anyone in this country. attacked more than anyone in this country-— attacked more than anyone in this country. last thoughts on this country. last thoughts on this katty _ this country. last thoughts on this katty kay? _ this country. last thoughts on this katty kay? the _ this country. last thoughts on this katty kay? the judge i this country. last thoughts on this katty kay? the judge was this katty kay? the 'udge was concerned about i this katty kay? the judge was concerned about this. - this katty kay? the judge was concerned about this. we i this katty kay? the judge was concerned about this. we had| concerned about this. we had that in the courtroom today. donald trump is not under a gag order as a presidential candidate, but he has been warned to watch the way that he, certainly, himself, bans, but he can't control the millions of americans that supported him and will act in

his name. we are in a moment where there is a lot of, at least, violence, we see it, this information online, violent rhetoric online, and we have to hope that this stays just as rhetoric and nothing else. thejudge spoke just as rhetoric and nothing else. the judge spoke about it and that is pretty unusual. thank you all again for all of your insights tonight. very interesting discussion we have had here on a remarkable day in the us. thank you so much. around the world and across the uk, this is bbc news. reporting for duty after clocking up more than 500,000 miles, most recently in dorset, it is patients not passengers will be looking for this bus stopping in ukraine. trite will be looking for this bus stopping in ukraine. we have a hue

stopping in ukraine. we have a huge shortage _ stopping in ukraine. we have a huge shortage of— stopping in ukraine. we have a huge shortage of doctors i stopping in ukraine. we have a huge shortage of doctors in i huge shortage of doctors in ukraine but mobile hospitals can move from village to village, from a small town to small town.— small town. the 'ob of converting i small town. the 'ob of converting it i small town. the 'ob of converting it is i small town. the job ofj converting it is already small town. the job of i converting it is already under way. 0ut converting it is already under way. out with their seats, in with the hospital beds. while the donated military hardware may have grabbed the hardware, medical help like this flood, carrying both battle casualties and the sick who struggled to get care in the war damaged hospitals, is also needed. this bus could be the first of many setting out on that same journey. you're live with bbc news. to china now, where french president emmanuel macron and eu commission president ursula von der leyen are expected on wednesday for a three—day visit. they'll meet with chinese president xijinping and other top officials. last week, ursula von der leyen made a speech, where she said relations between the eu and beijing had become strained and that europe needed to "de—risk" diplomatically and economically with china.

the comments were not taken well by chinese officials, prompting concerns about a proposed economic plan between the two sides. mariko 0i has been followin the story from singapore. i spoke to her a little earler. president macron is landing today at around 3:30pm local time. he will first be meeting with french residents in the capital, beijing, who of course have been affected by the covid—i9 restrictions. when he does meet with chinese leaders though tomorrow, there is of course a lot to discuss, from trade, human rights, to taiwan and of course russia's invasion of ukraine as well. for president macron, who has been facing rather embarrassing pension protests back home, embarrassing pension protests at home, he is hoping to land some economic victories. he is keen to push forward what is known as the cai, the comprehensive agreement on investment — it is basically an accord which if ratified would boost trade and investment relations between the eu and china, and for businesses —

some of those leaders are travelling with president macron — china is a huge market. but as you said, ursuala von der leyen's remark about de—risking from getting too close to china did not go down too well. but president macron so far has refrained from using strong anti—china rhetoric. it does seem to be a bit of a balancing act for the french president in particular. you mentioned those business interests. how is he navigating those trade and business interests with the need to take a tougher line with beijing on geo—political issues like the role china plays in the war in ukraine? absolutely, it is definitely a tricky balancing act and what is interesting though is that president macron actually invited the president of the european commission on this trip, hoping to i gues project european unity, especially after french officials criticised german chancellor 0lef schultz for going solo to china late last year. what they want to do is to persuade china to use its influence over russia

to bring peace in ukraine or at least prevent beijing from directly supporting its ally. there have been accusations that china could be providing arms to russia which beijing denies. and president xi went to moscow to meet vladimir putin. i do not think many are expecting a big breakthrough. how will the rest of the west be looking at this visit, including the us? of course beijing has been somewhat on a charm offensive, trying to separate europe and america. european leaders visiting china means washington will be closely watching the trip. president macron had telephone conversation with president biden, according to the white house. their trip coincides with taiwan's president's stopover when us

house speaker has confirmed to meet her. it could get a bit awkward for the french president has well. how receptive do you think china is going to be with this visit? we know there have been tensions? that is the big question and i think that is what a lot of analysts will be closely watching but i think from china's point of view, welcoming those two leaders from europe is not a negative thing, especially when tensions in washington have been somewhat quite tense. a lot of experts are expecting them to be quite warm and towards president macron as well as ursuala von der leyen. to brussels, where earlier on tuesday, nato welcomed finland into its security alliance, making it the 31st member. finland's accession doubles the length of member states�* borders with russia and it's a setback for russian president vladimir putin.

he had repeatedly complained of nato's expansion before his full—scale invasion of ukraine. 0ur defence correspondent jonathan beale has more from brussels. a near perfect day at nato headquarters to welcome its newest member. finland only applied a year ago, soon after russia's invasion of ukraine. and approved in record time, despite moscow's warnings about nato expansion. this sends a clear message that every nation has the right to choose its own path. that nato's door remains open and no one can close it with force or coercion. welcome to the alliance. nato membership brings with it security guarantees. an attack on one is seen as an attack on all. it is why ukraine wants tojoin nato. but for now, like these supporters, it has been kept outside. finland is also a neighbour of russia but until now

avoided picking sides. the era of military non—alignment in our history has come to an end. a new era begins. finland brings with it a modern, well—equipped armed forces who have already trained with nato allies. they are small but they can also call on more than 200,000 reserves. but finland also creates a challenge. its border with russia stretches more than 800 miles. 0vernight, nato's frontier with russia has more than doubled and the alliance must be ready to defend it if threatened. the treaty that founded nato was signed on this day 7a years ago. then there werejust 12 members. now there are 31, with the flag of finland the latest standing outside nato's headquarters. president putin, before the war in ukraine, said he wanted less of nato on his borders.

but what he has ended up with is a lot more. russia's war in ukraine has dramatically altered european security in a way it never intended. today the kremlin denounced nato's move as an escalation but with its own forces tied down in a grinding war of attrition, it cannot prevent nato expansion. sweden is expected to join next. jonathan beale, bbc news, brussels. 0ne country watching the news of finland's nato accession closely is ukraine, which applied for membership last year. ukrainian president volodymyr zelenskyy says he believes nato is the only effective security measure for his country, while the war continues. from kyiv, hugo bachega has more. 0ne country in particular was watching events in brussels are very closer, ukraine. the government has submitted an application tojoin nato but

there has been no movement from there has been no movement from the military alliance and it is unlikely any progress is going to happen before any kind of resolution to the conflict. now, at the heart of this request is one issue, nato security guarantees and the principle of collective defence. now in brussels, the ukrainian foreign minister said he discussed ukraine's plans with the nato chiefjens stoltenberg and the us secretary of state antony blinken. president zelensky said nato had become the only effective security guarantee amid russia's aggression in the region. we expected a nato summit injuly would bring this country closer to its goal of joining the allies. we want to bring you up—to—date in some other political news in the us.

voters decided two key races in the state of wisconsin and in chicago. in wisconsin, it's been a crucial battle for a state supreme court seat that could have huge implications on divisive issues. multiple media outlets are projecting the supreme court race forjanet protasiewicz who supports abortion rights, defeating her conservative opponent, daniel kelly. the projected victory gives the court a narrow liberal majority. observers say it could signal changes for the state on everything from redistricting laws to abortion access. over in chicago, us media projects that brandonjohnson will be the next mayor of chicago. the board of election commissioners has reported 99% of the precincts, and brandonjohnson holds about a 2—point lead. he defeats paul vallas, another democrat, in the runoff. vallas zeroed in on addressing the city's crime. johnson is a progressive backed by the city's teachers union and called for welfare

programs�* expansion. stay with us here on bbc news hello there. at this time of year, with light winds and a little bit of shelter, you can just start to feel the strength of the sunshine, but clear skies overnight can still lead to substantial frost. we have —6 celsius in parts of 0xfordshire first thing on tuesday morning. lots of blue sky and sunshine stayed all day, and in kew gardens by the middle of the afternoon, 15 celsius was the high — very nice indeed. the story is changing, though, and it's because of these frontal systems that are pushing in from the north—west. the clearest of the skies over the next few hours will be in the south—east corner here. touch of light frost possible, but with outbreaks of rain developing and more cloud around, it is going to be a much milder start to the day. but there will be some wet weather around, moving its way

out of scotland, pushing into northern england and across wales. showery rain to begin with, but another batch of wet weather will start to move in by the middle part of the afternoon. so, clouding over, but it should stay dry in east anglia for much of the day. highs here of 13 degrees. there'll be some showery outbreaks of rain and some heavier bursts pushing into wales and north—west england. a brighter afternoon, though, to close out the day in northern ireland and western scotland as the weather fronts start to drift their way steadily eastwards. still staying relatively mild for the time of year, that rain still has to clear away eastwards, and as it does so, well, we'll see clearer skies and temperatures will be a little bit lower out to the west by thursday morning. but thursday morning, we'll see that rain easing away, and then a little ridge of high pressure will slowly start to build in from the west and quieten things down. so, yes, a cloudy, grey start across eastern areas,

a few scattered showers remaining as we go through the day, but an improving picture. there will be some sunshine coming through. there will be some light winds still coming from a northwesterly direction on thursday, so that will make it feeljust that little bit fresher. temperatures are likely to peak between 8—13 celsius. now, as we move out of thursday into the start of the long easter weekend, high pressure is set to build in, for a couple of days at least. these weather fronts trying to push in from the atlantic, but they will take their time in doing so. so, not a bad start to the easter weekend — dry, settled and sunny before the risk of some rain arrives slowly but surely for easter sunday afternoon. take care.

this is bbc news. we'll have the headlines and all the main news stories for you at the top of the hour, straight after this programme. welcome to hardtalk with me, zeinab badawi. i'm in the serpentine galleries in london where there is a major exhibition of the work of the renowned american artist barbara chase—riboud. her art is on display in museums around the world, and she is also an award—winning novelist and poet. throughout her long career, barbara has been fascinated by public memorials and her sculptures honour various

historical and culturalfigures.