Donald Trump is spending the night in Miami, Florida, before appearing in court there on Tuesday on charges of mishandling national security files.
The former US president flew from his golf club in Bedminster, New Jersey to his Trump Doral resort near Miami.
Mr Trump faces dozens of charges of illegally possessing classified information, including some involving nuclear secrets.
This is the second time this year that he has been charged with a crime.
Mr. Trump, campaigning to return to the White House in 2024, has denied wrongdoing as he faces the first federal criminal trial against a former US president.
He appeared quiet but nervous as he strolled into a steakhouse at his Miami golf resort on Monday evening.
Mr Trump greeted guests at the BLT Prime restaurant with his signature thumbs-up, and even posed for a photo with a group of men enjoying their happy hour.
“All the way with you!” shouted a patron sitting at the bar.
“Thank you very much,” Mr Trump replied, before security ushered him into the dining area.
Guests feared Mr Trump’s arrival when several security agents appeared and casually took food and drink from metal detectors. Some people had their phones ready to take pictures.
The staff, on the other hand, were unfazed by their boss’s presence, continuing to mix drinks and serve guests.
A handful of supporters were also present at the bar. A woman sipped wine with a Trump flag on the back of her chair.
Mr. Trump has maintained a defiant tone. In an interview on a Spanish-language talk radio program in Miami, he aired the complaints along with the indictment, while accusing the Biden administration of arming law enforcement against him.
Meanwhile, Miami Mayor Francis Suarez told reporters the city was preparing for Mr. Trump’s court appearance.
He said police would be deployed in anticipation of crowds of up to 50,000 people, although other sources told JEE News that the number was expected to be in the thousands.
“We encourage people to be peaceful,” Mr. Suarez said.
On Saturday, in his first public appearance since being indicted, Mr Trump said the case amounted to “election meddling” by the “corrupt” FBI and Justice Department.
The former president will appear in court along with a close aide, Walt Nota, who was indicted by the same grand jury in Florida.
Mr Nota faces six criminal charges related to the alleged handling of national security documents. Both men are scheduled to make their initial appearances at 15:00 local time (20:00 BST).
A federal judge denied the news organizations’ request for access to the photo and video during a hearing Tuesday — although an artist who drew the sketches will be in court.
Afterward, Mr. Trump is expected to return to Bedminster to make remarks to the media.
