Trump becomes first ex-president sentenced for criminal conviction: live updates
NEW YORK - President-elect Donald Trump received the first ever criminal sentencing for a former or incoming U.S. president on Friday, an "unconditional discharge” that means Trump will get no prison time or probation as he prepares to enter the White House for a second time on Jan. 20.
"This has been a very terrible experience" and a "setback" for the New York court system, Trump told the judge overseeing his case minutes before his sentence was handed down.
Trump was convicted May 30 on 34 felony counts of falsifying business records to cover up a hush money payment to porn star Stormy Daniels ahead of the 2016 presidential election. The incoming president, who did not physically attend the sentencing, appeared via a remote video feed from South Florida.
After a 30-minute hearing, Judge Juan Merchan released Trump without any ongoing conditions, wishing him "Godspeed" in his second presidential term.
More: Whispers, tension, suspense: What happened in court as Donald Trump heard guilty verdict
Keep up with USA TODAY's updates from inside and outside the Manhattan courtroom:
Judge Merchan made Donald Trump sentencing audio available
Merchan gave Americans an unusual level of access Friday by making public the audio from President-elect Donald Trump's criminal sentencing.
You can listen to the recording here.
-Sarah D. Wire
New Yorkers go about day as history made in Manhattan courthouse
Just before noon, Stella Zhang took a break from working at home. She just wanted to get some sun, she said at the park across the street from the Manhattan courthouse. The sunshine peered between skyscrapers.
For a few minutes, she stood at the end of a small bridge that runs through a dry, manmade pond. Before, the bridge had barricades separating scores of demonstrators for and against Trump. The protests had been raucous at times, similar to a circus. But Zhang, who said she isn’t political, didn’t notice it before, especially since protests happen there often. On Friday, Zhang was the only person watching as a handful of Trump supporters packed up to leave.
“I haven’t really kept up with it,” she said. “I just know he got elected.”- Eduardo Cuevas
Trump was sentenced Friday. What happens next?
President-elect Donald Trump was formally sentenced in his New York criminal hush money case to an "unconditional discharge" – a sentence that means the soon-to-be president won't face ongoing restrictions despite his conviction.
Trump repeatedly vowed to appeal even before the sentencing. In a Truth Social post about 20 minutes after the sentencing hearing ended, the president-elect reiterated that plan, calling Friday's proceedings a "despicable charade."
Trump now has 30 days to file a "notice of appeal" challenging his criminal conviction in the New York state court system. The full appeals process could easily take months, and quite possibly years, to complete.
There are several arguments Trump could raise on appeal, including challenges to Judge Juan Merchan's decisions about what evidence and testimony prosecutors could present and Merchan's instructions to the jury on the law.
Trump will likely continue to raise arguments about the criminal immunity he says he gets as a former and future president. In his efforts to block the sentencing, Trump already said his conviction should be tossed out based on testimony and evidence presented to the jury that related to his first presidential term. Merchan rejected that argument ahead of the sentencing.
– Aysha Bagchi
More: Donald Trump was sentenced, but he already has said he will appeal. Here's how that works
Trump Truth Social post unleashes familiar attacks on justice system
In a Truth Social post to his millions of followers, President-elect Donald Trump responded to becoming the first president sentenced for a criminal conviction with a series of well-worn attacks on the justice system.
"The Radical Democrats have lost another pathetic, unAmerican Witch Hunt. After spending tens of millions of dollars, wasting over 6 years of obsessive work that should have been spent on protecting New Yorkers from violent, rampant crime that is destroying the City and State, coordinating with the Biden/Harris Department of Injustice in lawless Weaponization, and bringing completely baseless, illegal, and fake charges against your 45th and 47th President, ME, I was given an UNCONDITIONAL DISCHARGE," Trump wrote in the post.
New York Justice Juan Merchan issued a so-called “unconditional discharge,” a decision that spares the incoming president any jail time, fines or probation but upholds his conviction on 34 counts of falsifying business records to cover up a payment to porn star Stormy Daniels in the final days of the 2016 presidential campaign.
-Sarah D. Wire
Trump supporter: Election gains in New York sign of diversity, inclusion
Ariel Kohane, a 53-year-old Republican district leader on the Upper West Side, said the diverse group of supporters Friday morning outside the Manhattan courthouse — from Asians for Trump, to “Black Lives MAGA” — showed Trump’s appeal to a diverse coalition. Kohane wore a red yarmulke emblazoned with “Trump.”
While Trump lost New York City by a large margin, Trump made record gains, garnering about 30% of city voters in the 2024 election, according to the New York Times. Much of his gains came from predominantly nonwhite communities.
“We are the party of diversity and inclusion,” Kohane said outside the courthouse. “That’s what the MAGA movement is. We embrace everyone.”
He stood with a group of Asian and Black Trump supporters holding pro-Trump, American and Israeli flags. An ardent Israel supporter, Kohane said many fellow Jews are moving to the Republican Party. Even if they are still registered as Democrats, he said the war in Gaza and antisemitism in the U.S. are driving them to Trump.
He called it “Jexit,” a reference of Jews exiting the Democratic Party, akin to “Blexit” for Black Americans.
- Eduardo Cuevas
Political historian: Trump sentencing an 'insane spectacle'
Matthew Dallek, a historian and professor of political management at George Washington University, described Trump’s sentencing – even if the president-elect appeared remotely via screen – as an “insane spectacle” that perfectly sums up Trump’s popularity, his re-election and place in history and, ultimately, America’s current distrust of the American political system.
“If we step back and think about the last four years, between the FBI raid on Mar-a-Lago, the four criminal court cases, the multiple civil cases and the January 6 riots at the Capitol, this felony conviction is part of a firehose of corruption and criminality, and I don't think we can forget that fact, even though he obviously won both the popular vote and the electoral college,” Dallek said.
“I think what’s happening today reflects a lot about the entire Trump era. It's both incredibly tawdry but it’s also a felony criminal conviction,” Dallek added. “And the fact that he was able to survive being convicted on 34 felony counts and win the White House handily is, I think, a neat encapsulation of American politics circa 2025.”
The fact that Trump was able to use this first criminal charge as a campaign issue and fundraising tool also shows, Dallek said, “that Americans have grown increasingly ever more skeptical and cynical and disgusted with the political system and with institutions, and that includes the courts, the criminal justice system and politicians that brought Trump to his courthouse.”
- Josh Meyer
'I wish you Godspeed': Merchan sentences Trump with no ongoing conditions
In brief remarks to President-elect Donald Trump, Judge Juan Merchan said the proper sentence for the real estate mogul, taking everything into account, is an unconditional discharge. That sentence means Trump won't face jail time, community service, or even supervision in New York.
Merchan had indicated even before the sentencing that he was likely to impose the lax punishment, taking into account Trump's upcoming presidency. The prosecution and Trump's defense team both recommended that sentence.
"Sir, I wish you Godspeed as you assume your second term," Merchan said.
With that, the brief sentencing proceedings – they lasted about 30 minutes – concluded.
– Aysha Bagchi
Largest cities 'burning to the ground': Trump criticizes New York case
Continuing to address Judge Merchan, President-elect Trump criticized the New York hush money case, which was the only one of his four criminal cases to go to trial before his November election victory.
Trump pointed to broad national and international challenges, suggesting the New York case was comparatively trivial.
With our largest and most important cities "burning to the ground," Trump said, he got indicted for calling a legal expense a legal expense. The jury concluded Trump had falsified business records to mischaracterize repaying his former lawyer, Michael Cohen, for a hush money payment to porn star Stormy Daniels ahead of the 2016 election.
The president-elect also described wars, inflation problems, and other "horrible things going on" as he faced the New York criminal charges for which he is now convicted.
– Aysha Bagchi
Trump suggests criminal case helped him win election
President-elect Donald Trump argued to Judge Juan Merchan that the American people "got to see" that he was unfairly indicted "firsthand," and after that they voted and he won the November election.
Trump added that he "won conclusively" all seven swing states as well as the popular vote in 2024, suggesting public perception of the case helped him at the polls.
The Trump trial lasted from April 15 to May 30 last year, coinciding with the conclusion of the Republican presidential primaries and the start of the 2024 general election campaign.
– Aysha Bagchi
'It's incredible': Trump addresses the judge
Judge Juan Merchan asked President-elect Donald Trump if he wanted to address the court and Trump said, "Yes," thanking Merchan.
"This has been a very terrible experience" and a "setback" for the New York court system, Trump said.
"It was very inappropriate. It was somebody involved with my political opponent," Trump added, appearing to suggest the case was politically motivated.
Trump argued that the business records at issue in the case were accurate, despite the jury's verdict that they were falsified to cover up a hush money payment to porn star Stormy Daniels. Trump said legal fees and legal expenses were "put down" as legal expenses by accountants, and for that he got indicted.
"It's incredible," Trump said.
– Aysha Bagchi
Trump lawyer Todd Blanche recommends 'unconditional discharge'
Trump defense lawyer Todd Blanche briefly addressed Judge Merchan, saying he disputed prosecutor Joshua Steinglass' characterization of the criminal case and suggested it shouldn't have ever been brought.
Blanche agreed with Steinglass, however, that Merchan should impose an "unconditional discharge" sentence that would release Trump without any ongoing restrictions.
– Aysha Bagchi
'We love Trump!': President-elect's supporters outside courthouse
A small, diverse group of Trump supporters gathered in front of the courthouse displaying pro-Trump and American flags.
They led chants of “We love Trump!” and “America First” in front of an onslaught of cameras, which included press and conservative media.
“Donald Trump is going to put this country first and us first,” one supporter yelled.
- Eduardo Cuevas
Prosecutor recommends Trump be sentenced to 'unconditional discharge'
Despite outlining what he alleged was Trump's disrespect for the rule of law, prosecutor Joshua Steinglass recommended Judge Juan Merchan impose an "unconditional discharge" sentence against the president-elect, which would mean Trump doesn't face any ongoing conditions as a result of his sentence.
The recommendation matches the sentence Merchan has already indicated he's inclined to impose following Trump's November election victory and upcoming presidential duties.
Still, Steinglass argued that Trump has inflicted "enduring damage to public perception of the criminal justice system" through his attacks on the case and those involved in it. Steinglass alleged that Trump has placed court officers in harm's way.
– Aysha Bagchi
Massive flag supporting Trump outside courthouse
A 100-foot flag that read “Trump Won Trifecta” spanned much of a park outside the courthouse where protesters have gathered throughout the court proceedings in sometimes heated exchanges.
On Friday, Trump supporters only gathered in the park, sometimes chanting against Judge Merchan. Mostly, they talked among themselves and tried to hold the flag flat against the freezing morning breeze. “Keep that corner tight,” supporters occasionally yelled across the flag. “How do you say, ‘Let go,’ in Chinese?’” a demonstrator asked.
Queens resident Michael Li, 76, clutched a corner while facing the courthouse. Sporting a red “Make America Great Again” cap and a National Rifle Association backpack, he traveled by bus and train for two hours to support the president, he said.
“Trump never broke the law,” he said, calling the proceedings communist and fascist. “It’s a shame.”
-Eduardo Cuevas
Trump has shown 'disdain' for rule of law: Prosecutor
Prosecutor Joshua Steinglass, who delivered closing arguments for the prosecution team during the trial, is addressing Judge Juan Merchan. Steinglass is emphasizing that Trump was convicted by a Manhattan jury that listened to several weeks of testimony, and arguing that the president-elect has disrespected the legal process.
"The verdict in this case was unanimous and decisive," Steinglass said, adding that it must be respected.
"Far from expressing any kind of remorse," Steinglass continued, Trump has shown "disdain" for institutions and for "the rule of law." Trump has characterized the proceedings as "corrupt," as a "witch hunt" and as a "sham," Steinglass noted.
– Aysha Bagchi
'Let's impose sentence, please': Trump sentencing begins
After asking the lawyers about a probation report, Judge Juan Merchan formally began the historic sentencing proceedings with: "Let's impose sentence, please."
Prosecutor Joshua Steinglass is now addressing the judge and describing the background of the case, including the details of Trump's conviction.
– Aysha Bagchi
Judge Juan Merchan arrives and addresses Trump lawyers
Judge Juan Merchan has entered the courtroom and begun addressing the lawyers. Trump defense lawyer Emil Bove is physically in the courtroom, while Trump himself and defense lawyer Todd Blanche are appearing on several screens, including large monitors on the walls. Prosecutors are here in person.
In response to a question from Merchan, Blanche confirmed that he and the president-elect are appearing virtually from Florida.
– Aysha Bagchi
Trump appears for New York sentencing
Wearing a suit with a red tie, President-elect Donald Trump has appeared on monitors that are placed on the prosecution and defense tables in the courtroom. Seated next to him is Todd Blanche, one of Trump's defense lawyers and his nominee to serve as deputy attorney general in Trump's upcoming Justice Department.
Behind Trump are multiple American flags.
– Aysha Bagchi
Demonstrators gather in cold before sentencing
Small crowds of both supporters and opponents of President-elect Donald Trump gathered outside the Manhattan criminal court on a chilly Friday morning.
Mostly quiet, the groups held signs in the shadow of the courthouse, where Trump is expected to be sentenced this morning. During the trial, several city streets and sidewalks had been blocked off. On Friday, people zigzagged through the lines of New York City police officers, press and demonstrators en route to work.
More than a dozen protesters with the advocacy group Rise and Resist stood with signs reading “Felon,” “Presidents are not kings” and “Indivisible Liberty Justice” in front of a line of press. Even though Trump had already been convicted of felonies, Jamie Bauer, a 66-year-old organizer with the group, said it was important to witness the sentencing of a president.
“This is who we're going to have as president for four years,” Bauer said in front of the courthouse, holding a sign showing Trump that read “No jail time is an injustice to us all.” “Someone who has no respect for the law.”
Across the steps leading to the courthouse, over a dozen supporters of Trump waved flags. One sign read, “Stop partisan conspiracy” and “Stop political witch hunt.”
Just before Trump’s sentencing, supporters unveiled a 100-foot flag supporting the president, said Dion Cini, 56, who wore a trademark red “Make America Great Again” hat in gold lettering. He was going to unveil it at the inauguration on Jan. 20, but he decided to show support today.
“I have a mission today,” Cini said. “Of course on the next weekend (for) the biggest party in town. Not the biggest, the best.”
Cini credited the criminal case with electing Trump for a second term. “They got us 5 more million votes,” he added.
- Eduardo Cuevas
Alvin Bragg arrives in the courtroom
Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg has entered the courtroom and taken a seat in the second bench row behind the area for trial prosecutors. Minutes earlier, several trial prosecutors arrived and took seats at and near the prosecution table.
– Aysha Bagchi
What is an 'unconditional discharge'?
Ahead of Trump's sentencing, Judge Juan Merchan wrote that he was likely to impose an "unconditional discharge" sentence against the real estate mogul, although Merchan promised to consider arguments from prosecutors and Trump's defense team before his ultimate decision.
That sentence would mean Trump is released without imprisonment, without a fine, and without being under the supervision of New York's probation system. New York law requires judges to state reasons for that sentence if the crime at issue was a felony. Trump is being sentenced on 34 felony convictions.
Judges are allowed to impose unconditional-discharge sentences if they believe "no proper purpose would be served by imposing any condition upon the defendant's release," according to New York law.
Merchan said an unconditional discharge appeared to be "the most viable solution" to the particular difficulties presented by Trump's sentencing, including his upcoming presidency.
– Aysha Bagchi
What is the courtroom like for Trump's sentencing?
Security procedures at the Manhattan courthouse were more lax Friday morning than they were during Trump's trial – possibly because Trump has chosen to appear virtually rather than in-person for his sentencing. Reporters had to go through one security inspection process, not the previous two, for this morning's proceedings.
Four large television monitors are hanging from the walls of the main courtroom showing the time and the word, "Standby." Trump may be appearing by video feed on these monitors once proceedings start at 9:30 a.m. EDT.
Judge Juan Merchan isn't yet in the courtroom, and sketch artists who sat in the audience benches during the trial are seated Friday in the jury box.
Reporters have been permitted to use our laptops in the courtroom Friday, just as we were during the trial. There is a small din of typing and quiet conversations 15 minutes before proceedings are set to begin. Court security officers are patrolling the room and will likely tamp down on conversations once the judge arrives.
– Aysha Bagchi
What time is Trump's sentencing?
Trump's sentencing is scheduled to begin at 9:30 a.m. EDT Friday. The president-elect decided to appear virtually for proceedings after Judge Juan Merchan offered that option.
– Aysha Bagchi
Who testified at Trump's trial?
Nearly two dozen witnesses testified at Trump's trial, which lasted more than six weeks. Most testified for the prosecution, including former Trump White House staffers and Trump Organization employees.
One of the most anticipated witnesses was Stormy Daniels, the adult film actress whose allegation of a sexual encounter with Trump in 2006 – an allegation he denies – prompted the 2016 hush money payment at the heart of the case. Daniels described the alleged encounter in significant detail, including alleging Trump was wearing silky pajamas that evening and said Daniels reminded him of his daughter.
Former Trump lawyer Michael Cohen, a Trump loyalist-turned-nemesis, also testified at the trial. Cohen said he paid Daniels $130,000 to stay quiet about the allegation ahead of the 2016 election. Trump was convicted of falsifying business records to cover up that he was paying Cohen back in 2017.
David Pecker, who previously headed the parent company of the National Enquirer tabloid magazine, was also a major prosecution witness. Pecker described a "catch-and-kill" scheme in which the tabloid would buy and then bury stories that could have hurt Trump's 2016 presidential campaign.
– Aysha Bagchi
Why did the Supreme Court allow Trump's sentencing?
In a 5-4 vote, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled Thursday evening that Trump's sentencing could go forward. Trump had urged the justices to block it based on the immunity he argued he gets as a past and future president.
The court's majority said it was rejecting Trump's request because immunity-related issues he raised about the evidence at his trial could be addressed in a later appeal and the burden of being sentenced will be "relatively insubstantial" for him.
The court noted Judge Juan Merchan's stated plan not to place conditions on Trump and that the proceeding would be a "brief virtual hearing."
Republican-appointed Justices John Roberts and Amy Coney Barrett joined the court's three Democratic-appointed justices, Sonia Sotomayor, Ketanji Brown Jackson, and Elena Kagan, to allow sentencing to go forward. The four remaining Republican-appointed justices – Clarence Thomas, Samuel Alito, Neil Gorsuch, and Brett Kavanaugh – voted to block the Friday sentencing.
– Aysha Bagchi
What has Trump said about his sentencing?
Speaking to reporters Thursday evening from his Mar-a-Lago club in Florida, Trump confirmed he would attend his Friday sentencing, but added that his fight against the New York case is a "long way from finished."
"I'll do my little thing tomorrow – they can have fun with their political opponent," Trump said.
Trump pledged again to appeal his conviction, even though he said he wasn't anticipating being hit with a penalty Friday.
"We're going to appeal anyway – just, psychologically – because frankly it's a disgrace," Trump said.
– Aysha Bagchi
Could Trump go to jail or prison?
Theoretically, Manhattan Judge Juan Merchan has the option to sentence Trump to jail or prison. While there is no minimum sentence, each of Trump's 34 felony convictions carries a maximum penalty of four years, although New York law caps the total sentence for the types of felonies Trump was convicted of – Class E felonies – at 20 years.
However, Merchan wrote earlier this month that he will likely issue an "unconditional discharge" sentence that doesn't impose any ongoing restrictions on the soon-to-be president. Merchan described that sentence as "the most viable solution" to close down the case, enable Trump to appeal the verdict, and avoid interfering with Trump's impending presidency.
Even if Merchan wanted to impose jail or prison time, he might not be permitted to, at least if the sentence were implemented quickly. The Supreme Court has never ruled on whether a president-elect or sitting president could be forced behind bars, but some legal scholars argue that move would violate the Constitution by interfering with the presidency.
– Aysha Bagchi
Will Trump attend his sentencing in-person?
Trump is required to attend his sentencing, but Judge Juan Merchan gave the real estate mogul the option to attend virtually or in-person. In a Jan. 3 order, Merchan said he would allow the virtual option to address concerns about imposing significant demands on Trump as he prepares for his upcoming presidency.
The Trump transition team didn't respond to USA TODAY's request for comment on whether Trump planned to attend virtually or in-person. However, prosecutors from Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg's office said in a Thursday filing to the U.S. Supreme Court that Trump would be attending "by video."
– Aysha Bagchi
What was Trump convicted of?
Trump was convicted of falsifying business records 34 separate times to cover up that he was repaying his former personal lawyer, Michael Cohen, for sending porn star Stormy Daniels $130,000 to stay quiet about an alleged sexual encounter with Trump. Trump has denied the encounter ever happened.
Prosecutors proved beyond any reasonable doubt that Trump disguised the reimbursement as payments to retain Cohen's legal services, according to the 12 jurors who unanimously convicted the former reality TV star.
Trump was charged and convicted of felonies, not just misdemeanors, because the jury determined Trump was falsifying the records to conceal or commit another crime. Prosecutors argued that at least three other crimes were implicated, including violating campaign finance laws through the payment to Daniels.
– Aysha Bagchi
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Trump becomes first ex-president sentenced for a crime: live updates
