If you’re trying to keep up with the legal saga surrounding Donald Trump, I don’t blame you if your head is spinning. One day he’s in a courtroom, the next he’s back in the White House, and the news cycle moves so fast it’s basically a blur. But if we’re looking at the hard facts right now in early 2026, the short answer is yes—but the "how" and the "what now" are way more complicated than just a simple yes or no.
Let’s be real for a second. The phrase "convicted felon" is something we never thought we’d see next to a U.S. President’s name. Yet, here we are. It’s a bit of a weird reality to live in.
Does Trump have felony convictions on his record today?
Basically, yes. On May 30, 2024, a jury in Manhattan found Donald Trump guilty on all 34 felony counts of falsifying business records in the first degree. This wasn’t just a slap on the wrist or a civil fine; these were Class E felonies in the state of New York.
You’ve probably heard it called the "hush money" case. The core of the prosecution was that Trump funneled money to his then-lawyer Michael Cohen to pay off Stormy Daniels, then allegedly cooked the books at the Trump Organization to hide what that money was actually for. The jury spent weeks looking at checks, ledgers, and hearing from witnesses like Cohen himself before deciding that, yeah, he did it.
The sentencing twist you might have missed
A lot of people expected some kind of dramatic jail sentence or at least probation. That’s not what happened. After he won the 2024 election, things got really complicated for Judge Juan Merchan. How do you sentence a man who is about to take the most powerful office in the world?
On January 10, 2025—just ten days before his second inauguration—Trump was sentenced to an unconditional discharge.
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Honestly, that sounds like legal gibberish, but it basically means the court says: "You’re guilty, the conviction is on your record, but we aren't going to give you any jail time, fines, or supervision." It’s a weird middle ground. He’s a convicted felon, but he walked away with zero actual punishment other than the record itself.
Why some people say the convictions "don't count"
You’ll hear a lot of chatter online or on cable news about how these convictions are "void" or "going away." There is a tiny grain of truth there, but it hasn't happened yet.
Trump’s legal team has been fighting like crazy to get the whole thing tossed out. Their big weapon? The Supreme Court’s ruling on presidential immunity. They argue that since some of the evidence used in the trial came from his first term in office, it should never have been shown to the jury.
As of right now, in 2026, those 34 convictions are still technically on the books. He is appealing them, and that process could take forever. If a higher court eventually says, "Hey, Judge Merchan messed up," then the convictions could be overturned. But until that paper is signed, the answer to does Trump have felony convictions remains a firm yes.
What about the other cases?
It’s easy to forget that at one point, there were four different criminal cases looming over him. If you're wondering why he doesn't have felonies in those too, it's because they mostly evaporated once he moved back into the Oval Office.
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- The Federal Cases (Classified Documents & Jan 6): These were handled by Special Counsel Jack Smith. Once Trump became the President-elect, the Department of Justice basically followed its long-standing rule that you can’t prosecute a sitting president. Those cases were dismissed.
- The Georgia Case: This one was a total mess. Between the drama with Fani Willis and the eventual change in leadership, all charges were dropped by the new prosecutor in late 2025.
So, New York is the only place where a jury actually sat down, looked at evidence, and came back with a "guilty" verdict.
The practical reality of being a "Presidential Felon"
It creates some truly bizarre situations. For example, as a person with felony convictions, Trump technically can't own a firearm under federal law. He also can't travel to certain countries like Canada or the UK without special waivers, though obviously, as President, those rules tend to get waived for "diplomatic necessity."
The big takeaway here is that while the label "convicted felon" is factually accurate, it hasn't stopped him from exercising the powers of the presidency. We are in uncharted legal territory. No one really knows how a state-level felony conviction interacts with a sitting President’s duties in the long run.
Actionable Insights for Staying Informed
- Check the Appellate Docket: If you want to know if he’s still a felon, look for news regarding the New York First Judicial Department. That's where his appeal is currently sitting. If they rule in his favor, those 34 counts go poof.
- Understand the "Unconditional Discharge": Don't confuse "no jail time" with "not guilty." The sentencing on January 10, 2025, confirmed the guilt; it just waived the punishment.
- Ignore the Hyperbole: Both sides tend to exaggerate. One side says he's a "dangerous criminal" who should be in a cell; the other says the case was "totally illegal." The truth is in the middle: a valid legal conviction that is currently being challenged in a very slow-moving court system.
If you’re trying to keep your facts straight at a dinner party or a heated Facebook debate, just remember: He was found guilty of 34 counts, he was sentenced to an unconditional discharge, and the appeal is still pending. That’s the most accurate picture of where things stand today.
Keep a close eye on the New York appellate court rulings over the next few months. Those decisions will be the final word on whether those 34 entries in the ledger stay on his permanent record or are wiped clean for good. Be sure to verify any "breaking news" about dismissals against the actual court filings, as political commentary often outpaces the slow reality of the legal system.