President-elect Donald Trump was sentenced in New York after being found guilty of 34 felony charges. These charges were related to falsifying business records to hide an extramarital affair. Despite the seriousness of the crimes, Judge Juan Merchan decided on what’s called an “unconditional discharge.” This means Trump is officially a convicted felon but won’t face any penalties like jail time, fines, or probation.
The judge explained that if Trump were an ordinary citizen, he would likely face much harsher consequences. However, because Trump is about to become president again, certain legal protections apply to him. These protections, outlined in the Constitution and upheld by courts, prevented the judge from giving a stricter sentence. Judge Merchan made it clear that these protections do not make the crime less serious, but as a judge, he had to follow the law.
Trump attended the sentencing remotely from Mar-a-Lago via video call. Sitting next to his lawyer, he repeated his usual claims that the case was a political attack meant to damage his reputation. He denied the charges, insisted he never had an affair with Stormy Daniels, and said the entire case was bogus. Trump also argued that the voters had already “cleared” him by electing him despite the accusations. He called the case a “witch hunt” and claimed it was part of a larger effort to undermine his success.
Trump’s legal team had tried everything to stop the sentencing. They filed appeals in New York and even took the case to the U.S. Supreme Court. Just a day before the sentencing, the Supreme Court rejected his appeal in a 5-4 decision. Adding to the controversy, Trump had a phone call with Justice Samuel Alito earlier that week. The call was officially about a job referral for someone being considered for a role in Trump’s administration. However, ethics experts questioned the timing of the call, given Trump’s pending appeal with the Supreme Court. Alito later said they did not discuss the case during the call.
For Trump, this day was significant. Until the sentencing, he was not officially considered a convicted felon. Now, that label is something he will carry as he prepares to take office again. This outcome is not something Trump wanted, even though he faces no jail time or fines. It adds a unique challenge to his return to the White House, as no other U.S. president has entered office with such a legal burden.
At the end of the session, Judge Merchan addressed Trump directly, wishing him “Godspeed” as he assumes his second term. With that, Trump’s video call ended, and the courtroom proceedings were over. While Trump avoided direct punishment, the events of the day mark a historic and controversial moment as he prepares to lead the country again.
