Crowd sings ‘Happy Birthday’ to Trump during post-arraignment speech

The crowd gathered at former President Trump’s New Jersey golf club sang “Happy Birthday” to the former president Tuesday, the night before his birthday.

Trump traveled back to his golf club in Bedminister, N.J., on Tuesday evening after he pleaded not guilty in Miami to 37 federal charges alleging the former president mishandled classified documents in his Mar-a-Lago private residence and attempted to keep those documents from the government.

During his post-arraignment speech Tuesday evening, Trump wished himself a happy birthday before the crowd of his supporters broke out in song in honor of Trump’s 77th birthday, Wednesday. Trump pointed out that his birthday comes with him facing with 400 years in prison.

“We’re gonna make it the greatest birthday of all,” he said after the crowd sang to him.

More Trump arraignment coverage from The Hill

• Trump unloads on special counsel Jack Smith in speech hours after arraignment
• Five Takeaways from Trump’s arraignment 
• ‘This day will go down in infamy’: Trump rages in post-arraignment speech
• Trump stops at popular Cuban restaurant after pleading not guilty: ‘Food for everyone’
• Fox News chyron dubs Biden ‘wannabe dictator’ after Trump indictment

Trump and President Biden, the front-runners in the 2024 presidential election race, have both faced criticism over their age. At the time of the election, Trump will be 78, and Biden, who is already the oldest serving president, will be 81.

Trump, along with his aide Walt Nauta, was indicted last week in a federal case over his alleged mishandling of classified documents found at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida. He made his first court appearance Tuesday, where he entered a not guilty plea for all 37 counts brought against him.