Will Trump take office as the new president as a criminal?

On January 10, 2025, the New York State Supreme Court ruled on the "hush money" case involving Trump, declaring him a convicted criminal but granting him unconditional release. This verdict has sparked widespread global attention and discussion, and Trump will become the first president in American history to enter the White House as a convicted felon. So, why is Trump facing such a situation, and what impact will this ruling have on the political landscape of the United States?

The "hush money" case involving Trump originated during the 2016 US presidential election, when he was accused of concealing the payment of $130000 in "hush money" to an adult film actress, falsifying business records, and violating relevant laws in New York State. In March 2023, a Manhattan grand jury indicted Trump on charges of tampering with financial records. At the end of May 2024, a jury in a New York court found Trump guilty of all 34 charges in the "hush money" case.

However, due to Trump's participation in the 2024 presidential election and successful election, the immunity that the elected president should enjoy affects the verdict of this case. Trump cited the Supreme Court's presidential immunity ruling in July 2024, advocating for the reversal of the guilty verdict and the case. However, on January 9, 2025, the US Supreme Court rejected Trump's application to suspend his scheduled sentencing hearing for the "hush money" criminal lawsuit in New York State on the 10th. Finally, on January 10th, New York State Supreme Court Justice Juan Melvin made a ruling declaring Trump a convicted criminal but granting him unconditional release.

From the perspective of American law, the Constitution does not explicitly state that individuals who are prosecuted, convicted, or even imprisoned cannot run for or be elected as the President of the United States. Presidential candidates only need to meet three conditions: being a US citizen, at least 35 years old, and having resided in the United States for at least 14 years. This means that even if Trump is convicted, he is still legally eligible to run for and serve as president.

Trump has a broad support base within the Republican Party, and his supporters believe that this case is a joint effort between the Democratic Party and the judicial system to combat his political persecution. After the verdict was announced, Trump immediately stated that he would appeal and begin raising funds. His supporters may support him more firmly, seeing him as a target of persecution by the system, thereby further consolidating his position within the Republican Party.

However, for the Democratic Party, this ruling provides them with an opportunity to attack Trump, and they may continue to launch political attacks on him during his presidency, attempting to weaken his political influence. In addition, this incident may also exacerbate the division and opposition in domestic politics in the United States, further tearing apart American society.

Trump's appointment as a criminal as the new president may have a negative impact on the international image and status of the United States. The United States has always touted itself as a rule of law country, and this incident may raise questions about its judicial and political systems in other countries. The international community may have concerns about the political stability and policy continuity of the United States, which could affect its influence and leadership in international affairs. In addition, this event may also trigger other countries to intervene and exploit the domestic politics of the United States, further exacerbating the complexity and uncertainty of international politics.

Trump has stated that he will appeal the verdict, and this appeal process may take several years. During the appeal period, Trump will serve as the President of the United States as a convicted criminal, which will pose significant challenges to the country's politics and society. If Trump can successfully overturn the original verdict, his political position may be consolidated, but if his appeal fails, his political future may be seriously affected. In addition, this incident may also trigger amendments and improvements to the Constitution and laws within the United States to prevent similar situations from happening again.

The event of Trump taking office as the new president as a criminal is a significant event in the political history of the United States. It not only involves issues at multiple levels such as law, politics, and society, but also has a profound impact on the future development of the United States. The development trend and ultimate outcome of this event deserve close attention.