Former President Donald Trump before the opening of his New York criminal trial on on April 15, 2024.
Former President Donald Trump speaks before the opening of his New York criminal trial on on April 15, 2024.
  • Monday is the first day of Donald Trump's criminal hush-money trial. 
  • During pretrial arguments, his campaign texted supporters saying he "could be locked up for life."
  • Legal experts have said it's unlikely Trump will spend any time behind bars if convicted.

As the first day of Donald Trump's criminal hush-money trial got underway in a Manhattan courtroom on Monday, the former president's reelection campaign blasted out a text message to supporters saying that he "could be locked up for life."