Let’s just say it plainly: the President of the United States is a convicted felon.
On May 30, 2024, a jury found Donald Trump guilty on all 34 felony counts of falsifying business records. The crime: covering up hush money payments to a porn star to hide an affair and influence the 2016 election. The jury deliberated, considered the evidence, and came back guilty. Thirty-four times.
He was sentenced on January 10, 2025 — ten days before taking office. The sentence: unconditional discharge. No jail. No probation. Nothing. He walked out, flew to Mar-a-Lago, and two weeks later was sworn in as President.
He called it a witch hunt. He called the judge corrupt. He called the whole thing rigged. He says that about every court that rules against him. It’s the only move he has.
But here’s what’s not rigged: twelve ordinary American jurors sat through seven weeks of testimony, weighed the evidence, and unanimously said guilty. That’s how the system is supposed to work. That’s the system he spent years telling you to trust — right up until it told you something he didn’t want you to hear.
America knew he was a convicted felon on Election Day 2024. Elected him anyway.
We are the first country in the history of American democracy to knowingly elect a convicted criminal to the presidency. That’s not a partisan talking point. That’s just what happened.
Sources: NY Times verdict | PBS on sentencing