Donald Trump says he boycotted last week’s arraignment in Georgia on election interference charges to protest in-court camera coverage of his upcoming trial.

The former president claimed in a fundraising email that he was infuriated by Fulton County judge Scott McAfee’s decision to allow all hearings and a possible trial to be broadcast on the court’s YouTube channel.

“Why would I fly down to Atlanta just to hear over a dozen FALSE CHARGES brought against me on live TV?” Mr Trump wrote in a message to supporters obtained by the New York Post pleading for more money.