Donald Trump criminal trial is set for March 2024; judge informs Trump what he can't say about hush money case

A New York judge has set a trial date of March 25, 2024, for the criminal case against former President Donald Trump, potentially setting up a media spectacle in the middle of the Republican presidential primary season.

The trial date was set during a brief hearing Tuesday in which Judge Juan Merchan read Trump an order on what he can and cannot say publicly about the case and evidence his legal team will get from prosecutors to prepare for trial.

Trump appeared remotely via video feed so the judge could communicate with him in open court.

Trump pleaded not guilty last month to 34 felony counts of falsifying business records with the intent to conceal illegal conduct connected to his 2016 presidential campaign. The criminal charges stem from District Attorney Alvin Bragg's investigation into hush money payments, made during the 2016 campaign, to adult film star Stormy Daniels who alleged an affair with Trump, which he denies.

During the hearing, Trump could be seen speaking and gesturing to his attorney Todd Blanche seated next to him on the screen but his audio was not audible. At times he sat back with his arms crossed. The former president only spoke to confirm he had a copy of the protective order for the case. "Yes, I do," he said.

Trump's attorney said that the former president remains concerned that the order infringes on his First Amendment rights.

"He understands that he has to comply with the order, and if he doesn't do so, he's violating your order," Blanche said during the hearing.