Trump reports for jury duty in New York

The civic duty was somewhat overdue for Trump, who had been summoned but didn’t appear five times before.

Some of Trump’s previous statements on immigration – including ones in which he said Mexico was sending rapists and murderers to the U.S. – have resulted in criticism of the real estate mogul, but he insisted Saturday he’s made no mistakes during his campaign.

Michael Cohen, an executive vice president and special counsel to the Trump Organisation, said if the former Apprentice star had received the prior notices he would have complied.

Trump’s recent comments about Megyn Kelly are rumored to have caused a rift between him and FOX News Chairman Roger Ailes, but he says the debate is behind them them. “But whether they [the Mexicans] do or don’t pay for the wall, as he says in his document, the cost of that wall pales in comparison to not building it”. “If he’s selected, he will serve”.

For most of the morning, Trump, who wore a navy suit and blue tie with white stripes, sat quietly and chatted occasionally with fellow jurors.

While most jurors waited outside in line to go through security, Trump was able to zip straight into the courthouse.

On Monday, he shook hands with people waiting outside the court before taking the steps and waving. Court officials reported no juries were needed for the few cases eligible for trial in the month of August.

Monday was a rare break in Mr Trump’s headline-grabbing, bombastic run for the Republican nomination for president, which saw him offer children free rides on his helicopter while in Iowa over the weekend.

“Our leading contender, Mr. Trump, is going backward on immigration”. Presidential hopeful Ben Carson, a neurosurgeon, was second with 12% of support.

His appearance came a day after his campaign website posted his immigration platform, which includes mandatory deportation of all “criminal aliens”, tripling the force of immigration officers by eliminating tax credit payments to immigrant families residing illegally in the U.S., and making Mexico pay for a permanent border wall. He is scheduled to campaign in New Hampshire later this week, an aide said.

His jury service on Monday drew at least one protester, Bill Johnsen of Staten Island, who contended that Trump was only reporting for duty this time as a public relations stunt.

“They have to go”, Trump said, adding: “What they’re doing, they’re having a baby”.

In celebrity-studded New York Metropolis, it’s commonplace for well-known names to be picked to point out up in potential jury swimming pools.

MURRAY: Well, Chris, if you look at this plan, I think what’s really interesting is Donald Trump really only offers red meat that will appeal to the far right conservative wing of the party.