Pro and anti-Donald Trump protesters are expected to line the streets of the Big Apple today as the former president prepares to surrender to face criminal charges stemming from 2016 hush money payments.

Trump's unprecedented journey will begin when he departs his Trump Tower penthouse in Midtown Manhattan at around 10.30am - closely guarded by his Secret Service detail - for an 11am arrival at District Attorney Alvin Bragg's office downtown.

Once inside and away from the glare of the world's media, the 76-year-old is expected to have his fingerprints taken but will likely avoid the humiliation of having to pose for a mugshot, according to reports last night.

He will then be ushered into the Manhattan Criminal Courthouse, which is inside the same building as Bragg's office, for the landmark arraignment hearing. 

New York police are braced for protests along the streets from Trump Tower to the DA's office, with thousands of cops on standby in case violence breaks out.

Barricades are lining the roads to hem in Trump supporters in particular, who share the former president's belief that the New York grand jury indictment is politically motivated and intends to weaken his bid to retake the White House in 2024.

Hordes of pro-Trump protesters turned out to greet the former president as he arrived at Trump Tower yesterday from his residence in Mar-A-Lago, waving flags and yelling messages of support. But they were met with plenty of anti-Trump protesters holding placards that read 'Lock Him Up' and 'Trump Is Guilty'.