A full 12-person jury has been sworn in for ex-US President Donald Trump’s historic criminal trial in New York City.

“We have our jury,” Justice Juan Merchan declared after seven men and five women were selected for the panel. Two jurors had to be excused earlier.

Some thought jury selection might take weeks, but things moved quickly after Mr Trump’s team ran out of challenges.

The court could hear opening arguments as soon as Monday.

The trial, the first ever in which a former US president is the defendant, stems from a hush-money payment to a porn star.