Fact check: Is Donald Trump a criminally convicted felon?

1. Summary of the results

Yes, Donald Trump is definitively a criminally convicted felon. Multiple independent sources confirm that on May 30, 2024, he was convicted of 34 felony counts of falsifying business records in the first degree ^[1]. This conviction made him the first U.S. president or former president to be found guilty of a crime ^[2]. The conviction stems from a hush money scheme involving payments to adult film star Stormy Daniels before the 2016 election ^{[2] [3]}.

2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints

Several important contextual details are worth noting:

• While convicted, Trump received an "unconditional discharge" with no prison time, though the conviction remains on his record ^[4]
• Each count was classified as a Class E felony in New York state, with each count being punishable by up to 4 years in prison ^[5]
• The prosecutors successfully argued that Trump intentionally falsified these records to conceal the payments ^[6]

3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement

The simple yes/no nature of the original question omits crucial context about:

• The specific nature of the felonies (business record falsification)
• The timing of the conviction (May 30, 2024)
• The historical significance of this being the first presidential conviction

There have been attempts to spread misinformation about this conviction, with some social media claims suggesting Trump had never been convicted of any felonies ^[7]. This highlights the importance of relying on verified sources when discussing this topic.

The conviction's implications affect various stakeholders:

• Political opponents who might use this conviction in campaigns
• Trump's political supporters who might need to defend or contextualize these convictions
• Legal scholars and historians, as this sets a unprecedented legal precedent for former presidents