How long will Trump court case go on and what impact will it have on his campaign?

Donald Trump has not missed the opportunity to address the American public at the start of the Stormy Daniels trial.

He branded the trial a “persecution,” adding that it was “an assault on America”. “Nobody has ever seen anything like it,” he proclaimed.

In a characteristic style contrary to the more subdued persona he portrayed inside the Manhattan Criminal Court, pictured, Trump clearly wanted to use the chance to address the American public in lieu of the usual campaign rallies and other political events he should be attending in the months before the presidential elections, where he is running for the Republican party.

The former president has been told by judge Juan M Merchan that he will need to be present for the hush money trial, which is due to run for at least six weeks. The period is key for Trump as a presidential candidate, just seven months before the election in a country where campaigns run long ahead of the vote.

He has already asked for an exemption – and been refused it – to attend Supreme Court deliberations on presidential immunity next week. “I will see him here next week,” Judge Merchan firmly told Trump’s legal team.

While the case gives Trump an opportunity to ensure his usual showboating is reported in the US media every day, it means he will be prohibited from continuing his campaign as normal. However, whether this will be a help or a hindrance remains to be seen.

While Trump’s staff has organised events on weekends and on Wednesdays, when court is not supposed to be in session, the plans have been thrown into uncertainty after the judge suggested Wednesdays could be added to the schedule if the case falls behind the proposed timescales.

Mr Trump is facing multiple legal cases, including four criminal trials – but this latest case is likely to be the only one to be tried before the presidential election in November.

He has already had to campaign from courtrooms – at his civil fraud trial as well as a defamation case brought by the writer E Jean Carroll, who accused him of rape.

He has also said he would be happy to serve as president from behind bars – something which is technically possible under US law.