Former Vice President Mike Pence said the federal indictment against Donald Trump contains “very serious allegations” that he can’t defend — but believes politics motivated the case against the ex-president.

Pence reacted to the 37-count indictment in a sit-down with The Wall Street Journal’s editorial board on Tuesday as Trump pleaded not guilty to the charges during his arraignment at a Miami federal courthouse.

“Having read the indictment, these are very serious allegations. And I can’t defend what is alleged,” said Pence, who is facing off against Trump in the 2024 GOP presidential primary.

“But the President is entitled to his day in court, he’s entitled to bring a defense, and I want to reserve judgment until he has the opportunity to respond,” Pence told the newspaper’s editorial board.

Pence stressed that “no one is above the law” but noted “as an American you’re innocent until proven guilty.”

READ MORE

Supporters of former President Donald Trump serenaded him at his Bedminster, N.J., golf club hours after he pleaded not guilty in a Miami courtroom to 37 felony counts related to his mishandling and concealment of classified White House documents.

The crowd sang “Happy Birthday” about 15 minutes into Trump’s post-arraignment speech as the former president lamented the circumstances on the eve of his 77th birthday. 

“Nice birthday isn't it?” Trump mused on stage. 

“I was with Eric [Trump] and Laura [Trump], and the kids. ‘Happy Birthday, Grandpa.’  And I said, ‘Oh, great.’ I just got charged with – they want 400 years approximately. If you add them all up, a fake  400 years,” Trump said of the maximum time in prison he faces if convicted of all charges. 

Earlier Tuesday, a crowd at the iconic Miami Cuban restaurant Versailles also sang “Happy Birthday” to Trump.

Guests trickled into former President Donald Trump's Bedminster, New Jersey golf club on Tuesday night, just hours after he pleaded not guilty to 37 federal charges in Miami related to the mishandling of classified documents.

Sebastian Gorka, former deputy assistant to Trump, told The Post he thought the indictment "is an utter outrage" as he headed inside the club ahead of an expected 8:15 p.m. speech by the former president.

"They’ve crossed a bridge that should have never happened. It’s ok in Venezuela, it’s ok in North Korea but not in America," he added. "We've crossed the Rubicon"

Also in attendance was one of Trump's reliable supporters, My Pillow's Mike Lindell, as well as disgraced ex-NYPD Commissioner Bernard Kerik and Andrew Giuliani.

Giuliani said he was with Trump the other day and he seemed “unfazed” by his latest indictment.

“It’s kinda amazing for a guy who has a birthday tomorrow, he just seems to be continuously focused, I’d say completely focused on the task at hand,” he told reporters.

The man who was hauled away by cops while charging former President Donald Trump's motorcade in a costume jailhouse jumpsuit said he was there "to join the circus" of pro and anti-Trump protesters before his apparent arrest.

While waiting for Trump's arrival outside of the federal courthouse in Miami, Dominic Santana, whose black and white striped uniform was complete with handcuffs and a plastic ball and chain, told the Associated Press he was there to protest the President.

Video shows a man in a jailhouse costume run into the middle of the road and stand in front of one of the vehicles holding a large sign.

Men in suits and a police officer in uniform immediately rush the man and force him onto the sidewalk, where he is cuffed and taken into custody, video shows.

Santana, 61, told AP came to the U.S. as a child from Cuba. He ran an eatery in the New York area for decades before he retired in Miami.

He said he considers himself a political independent although his mother and daughter voted for Trump.

"'A fellow New Yorker can spot a rat a mile away," he said. "Frankly, he should’ve been locked up ages ago."

The Secret Service told The Post in a statement that the man, who had also approached the motorcade while Trump was heading toward the courthouse, did not affect security. He has not been identified by authorities.

"On both occasions, the individual was removed swiftly from the roadway by officers from the Miami City Police Department," U.S. Secret Service spokesperson Special Agent Steve Kopek said. "His actions had no impact on the security of the protective movement and we thank Miami City Police for their continued partnership."

It's not clear if any charges have been filed.

Former president Donald Trump looked stone-faced and serious in a courtroom sketch from his historic arraignment in Miami federal court on Tuesday.

Trump and co-defendant Walt Nauta stood at the defendant's table surrounded by their attorneys, the courtroom sketch by artist Bill Hennessy shows.

The 45th president looks stern but calm as he glares towards U.S. Magistrate Judge Jonathan Goodman in the sketch. Trump frowned at some points but looked down at the floor for most of the hearing, according to ABC News.

Judge Goodman had denied a request by several media groups for permission to take photographs inside the courtroom for Trump's arraignment on 37 felony counts related to his alleged mishandling of classified White House documents. 

Trump pleaded not guilty to all the charges while Nauta, Trump's aide who is facing six similar charges, did not enter plea on Tuesday and will be arraigned in two weeks, CNN reported.

Former President Donald Trump stopped for a quick bite at a bakery in Miami's Little Havana neighborhood after his historic indictment on 37 counts in connection with mishandling classified information.

Trump was seen shaking hands with his supporters who wished him a happy birthday at the iconic Versailles, a major focal point of Miami's deeply red Cuban exile community.

Trump posted on his Truth Social media platform shortly after appearing at the Cuban eatery.

"Thank you Miami. Such a warm welcome on such a SAD DAY for our Country!" Trump wrote.

The crowd, which included recently retired UFC star Jorge Masvidal, even sang "Happy Birthday" to Trump, who turns 77 on Wednesday, NBC reported.

A protester dressed in a black and white striped prison jumpsuit was detained by police as former President Donald Trump's motorcade left his arraignment at the Miami federal courthouse Tuesday.

Video shows the unidentified man running into the middle of the road and standing in front of one of the vehicles holding a large sign.

Men in suits and a police officer in uniform immediately rush the man and force him onto the sidewalk, where he is handcuffed and taken into custody, video shows.

The Secret Service told The Post in a statement that the man, who had also approached the motorcade while Trump was heading toward to the courthouse, did not impact security.

"On both occasions, the individual was removed swiftly from the roadway by officers from the Miami City Police Department," U.S. Secret Service spokesperson Special Agent Steve Kopek said. "His actions had no impact on the security of the protective movement and we thank Miami City Police for their continued partnership."

Former President Donald Trump has left federal court in Miami after pleading not guilty to all 37 charges in the indictment related to his alleged mishandling of classified documents following the raid at his Florida home last year.

He left the courthouse garage with his motorcade and is likely heading to the airport to fly back to New Jersey, according to CNN.

Per conditions of his release, Trump will not have to surrender his passport and no limitations have been placed on domestic or international travel, CBS reported.

He is also barred from communicating with co-defendant and aide Walt Nauta about the case.

Federal prosecutor David Harbach told a federal magistrate judge in Miami that the government “does not view" former President Donald Trump and co-defendant Walt Nauta "as a flight risk," according to CNN.

Trump has pleaded not guilty to 37 charges related to his handling of classified documents that were seized from his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida last August.

Trump aide Nauta was also indicted by the same grand jury last week on six related charges.

Former President Donald Trump pleaded not guilty to 37 federal charges shortly after 3 p.m. Tuesday, NBC News reported.

Trump, 76, appeared at the Wilkie D. Ferguson Jr. US Courthouse in Miami for the historic hearing alongside attorneys Chris Kise and Todd Blanche.

He is facing extensive federal charges stemming from his alleged mistreatment and concealment of top secret documents after he left the White House in January 2021.

Trump's aide Walter Nauta was also indicted last week on six related charges.

Former President Donald Trump has entered the Miami federal courtroom where he will be arraigned on 37 charges, CNN reported.

The proceedings are scheduled to take place around 3 p.m.

Trump, who turns 77 on Wednesday, is expected to plead not guilty to 37 counts related to the alleged mishandling of top secret documents after he left the White House in January 2021.

His aide Walter Nauta is facing six related charges. Both men were booked at the Wilkie D. Ferguson Jr. US Courthouse shortly before 2:30 p.m.