How Trump, his allies and his opponents reacted to indictment over hush money

The former president, his allies and Republican rivals have hit back at the move to arrest him on charges of paying Stormy Daniels

US Republican House representative Majorie Taylor Greene said former president Donald Trump was innocent. Bloomberg

Donald Trump has been indicted by a Manhattan grand jury after a probe into hush money paid to former adult star Stormy Daniels, becoming the first former US president to face criminal charges.

The charges from an investigation led by Manhattan district prosecutor Alvin Bragg come as Mr Trump seeks the Republican nomination to run again in 2024.

Here's how he and other notable politicians reacted to the news:

Donald Trump:

Mr Trump said he was “completely innocent”.

“This is political persecution and election interference at the highest level in history.”

Mr Trump's time after office — in pictures

This photo taken on January 6, 2021, shows Trump supporters battling with police and security forces as they storm the US Capitol building in Washington. AFP

A US House of Representatives committee has been investigating the events of January 6 and what role former US president Donald Trump played. EPA / Pool

Reports surfaced earlier this year that Mr Trump took classified government documents with him to his private residence in Mar-a-Lago, Florida. AP

Mr Trump's private residence in Mar-a-Lago. Getty Images / AFP

Mr Trump launched his own social media site, Truth Social, following his ban from Twitter. Here, he airs grievances against Tesla head Elon Musk, who had said it was time for the former president to 'sail into the sunset'. Screengrab / Truth Social

New York state Attorney General Letitia James says a more than three-year investigation has found evidence that the Trump Organisation misstated asset valuations to get favourable loans and tax breaks. AP

Mr Trump and his family attend the funeral of his first wife, Ivana, in New York City. Reuters

Mr Trump has endorsed a number of candidates for various offices since leaving office, including Joe Kent of Washington who is challenging Jaime Herrera Beutler for a House of Representatives seat. Here, Mr Kent speaks in support of people who took part in the January 6 insurrection. AP

Mr Trump prepares to speak at a rally in Phoenix, Arizona. AP

Georgia state senator Burt Jones prepares to speak during a rally held by Mr Trump in Commerce, Georgia. Reuters

Mr Trump speaks at a Save America rally in Prescott, Arizona. AP

A man poses for a photo before a Trump rally in Pennsylvania. Reuters

Pennsylvania Republican Senate candidate Dr Mehmet Oz, who is backed by Mr Trump, speaks during a rally in Greensburg, Pennsylvania. Reuters

Ron DeSantis:

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, a potential challenger for the 2024 Republican nomination, said in a tweet that the move was a “weaponisation” of the justice system.

“The weaponisation of the legal system to advance a political agenda turns the rule of law on its head. It is un-American,” he wrote.

“Florida will not assist in an extradition request given the questionable circumstances …”

Mike Pence:

Mr Trump's vice president Mike Pence, who is also seen as a potential challenger for the 2024 nomination, gave his thoughts to CNN.

“I think this is an outrage but I also think at a time when the American people are struggling so much, that this will only further serve to divide our country.”

Chuck Schumer:

Senate Majority leader Chuck Schumer, a Democrat, said he thought Mr Trump should be treated like anybody else and that if he were innocent the justice system would prove it to be so.

“Mr Trump is subject to the same laws as every American. He will be able to avail himself of the legal system and a jury, not politics, to determine his fate, according to the facts and the law.

“I encourage both Mr Trump’s critics and supporters to let the process proceed peacefully and according to the law.”

Nikki Haley

Nikki Haley, Mr Trump's UN ambassador and a potential challenger for the 2024 Republican nomination, said in a tweet that the indictment was “revenge”.

“This is more about revenge than it is about justice,” she told Fox News.

Rudy Giuliani

Mr Trump's former lawyer expressed his thoughts on Twitter with a meme of the former president pointing to the camera with the caption, “In reality, they're not after me, they're after you.”

“The 45th President of the United States, Donald J. Trump, has been indicted by a Grand Jury in New York following District Attorney Alvin Bragg's irresponsible and politically motivated efforts to take him down. A sad day for America.”

Nancy Pelosi

Ms Pelosi, the former Democratic House speaker and long-time target of Mr Trump's ire, issued a statement that echoed her colleague Mr Schumer.

“The grand jury has acted upon the facts and the law. No one is above the law, and everyone has the right to a trial to prove innocence. Hopefully, the former president will peacefully respect the system, which grants him that right.”

Michael Cohen

Another of Mr Trump's former lawyers, Michael Cohen, said the move was simply the opening salvo.

“Today's indictment is not the end of the chapter, it is just the beginning … Accountability really matters.”

Ted Cruz

The Republican senator, who has supporter and criticised Mr Trump at different times, claimed political considerations had influenced the indictment.

“The Democrat Party’s hatred for Donald Trump knows no bounds. The 'substance' of this political persecution is utter garbage. This is completely unprecedented and is a catastrophic escalation in the weaponisation of the justice system.”

Majorie Taylor Greene

Republican House representative Majorie Taylor Greene, the polemic Trump supporter and QAnon conspiracy theorist, sometimes referred to simply as MTG, was set to give a Lincoln Day address at the famous Civil War site of Gettysburg in Pennsylvania when she reacted on Twitter.

Ronny Jackson

Mr Trump's former physician-turned-Republican representative for Texas tweeted simply to say “Alvin Bragg is a NATIONAL EMBARRASSMENT to our justice system.”