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Is Donald Trump a criminally convicted felon?
Executive summary
Donald Trump was convicted by a Manhattan jury on 34 felony counts of falsifying business records tied to a 2016 hush‑money payment; the verdict came on May 30, 2024, and made him the first U.S. president to be criminally convicted [1] [2]. He was later sentenced to an unconditional discharge in January 2025 and is actively appealing and seeking other legal routes to undo or erase the conviction [2] [3].
1. The core fact: a 34‑count felony conviction in New York
A New York jury found Donald J. Trump guilty on all 34 counts of falsifying business records in connection with payments intended to conceal damaging information during the 2016 campaign; multiple outlets and the Manhattan DA’s office report the unanimous jury verdict on May 30, 2024 [1] [2] [4].
2. Sentence and immediate legal status: unconditional discharge, conviction preserved
After his conviction, a New York court imposed an “unconditional discharge” in January 2025, meaning the judge did not impose imprisonment, probation, or a fine, but the felony convictions remain on the record while appeals are pending [5] [2]. The administrative result—a discharge instead of jail time—does not erase the jury’s verdict itself [2].
3. Appeals and legal strategies: immunity and venue challenges
Trump’s legal team has filed appeals in state court and sought federal review, arguing among other things that a recent Supreme Court decision about presidential immunity should limit or void parts of the prosecution; courts have given varying signals, including orders for reconsideration in federal proceedings and active appellate filings in New York [6] [7] [3]. The legal posture is fluid: appeals and motions explicitly seek to overturn the conviction or move aspects of the case to different forums [3] [7].
4. How media and institutions frame the significance
News organizations and advocacy groups highlight the historic nature of the verdict: outlets reported Trump as the first former or sitting U.S. president convicted of felony crimes, and groups such as Common Cause noted the symbolic consequence that a convicted felon won election and was slated to serve as president again [1] [8]. Academic commentary likewise emphasizes the novelty and potential short‑lived nature of the label, given pending legal challenges [9].
5. What the conviction technically means — and what it does not (per available reporting)
The conviction means a state jury found beyond a reasonable doubt that Trump falsified business records under New York law in a scheme tied to the 2016 election [4]. Available sources do not mention that the conviction has been definitively overturned; they report ongoing appeals and court reviews that could change the legal status [3] [7]. Sources also report that the sentence of unconditional discharge left him off from imprisonment while the appellate process continues [5].
6. Competing legal views and political interpretations
Trump’s lawyers characterize the prosecution as “politically charged” and argue the trial was “fatally marred” or that evidence should be excluded under presidential‑immunity precedents; prosecutors and the DA’s office characterize the verdict as supported by overwhelming evidence presented to the jury [3] [4]. Different outlets and legal observers stress both the historical significance of a conviction and the realistic prospects that appellate rulings—particularly those invoking presidential immunity—could reverse or narrow the conviction [10] [9] [7].
7. Practical consequences and open questions
Reporting notes concrete effects such as suspension of certain licenses under New York law historically tied to felony status, and commentators flag uncertainty about long‑term consequences because appeals and federal reviews are active [11] [7]. Whether the conviction will be vacated, affirmed, or otherwise modified is unresolved in available coverage and remains subject to appellate outcomes [3].
8. Bottom line for your original question
Based on the reporting provided, Donald Trump currently has a recorded criminal conviction in New York for 34 felony counts of falsifying business records stemming from the 2016 hush‑money matter; he was sentenced to an unconditional discharge and is pursuing appeals and legal avenues to overturn or vacate that conviction [1] [5] [3]. Available sources do not state a final, irreversible legal outcome overturning the conviction as of the documents cited [3] [7].