F.B.I. raids Trump’s house

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the intelligence and security service of the United States and its principal federal law enforcement agency, has raided the house of former President Donald Trump at Mar-a-Lago in Florida.

The former US president claimed this in a written statement on Monday and called the search an “assault” and complained that authorities had broken into a safe. The news appeared to come as a surprise to top aides at the White House.

The search was reportedly connected to an investigation into Mr Trump's handling of official papers.

By late Monday night, a couple dozen supporters of former President Donald J. Trump had gathered across the street from his private residence in Palm Beach, Fla., some holding Trump-Pence flags from their 2020 campaign, others wearing red Make America Great Again caps. But all were united in their anger over the news that federal authorities had conducted a search of Mar-a-Lago and, according to Mr. Trump.

The dramatic escalation of law enforcement scrutiny of Mr Trump comes as he prepares for a possible third presidential run in 2024.

Vehicles of Trump supporters lined South Ocean Boulevard, and people had gotten out of their cars to express their support — some rather loudly.