So, you’re looking at the news and it feels like a math problem that won’t end. How many counts does Trump have? It's a question that’s basically been the background noise of American politics for years now. If you’re confused, honestly, join the club. Between the state courts in New York and Georgia and the federal drama in D.C. and Florida, the numbers have jumped around more than a caffeine-addicted frog.
Let’s just get the big number out of the way first. When the dust finally settled on all four major indictments, Donald Trump had been hit with a total of 88 criminal counts.
Yeah. Eighty-eight.
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But wait. If you check the headlines today, in January 2026, that number isn’t what he’s actually facing anymore. Most of those counts are gone—poof. Vanished into a cloud of dismissals and legal maneuverings that happened right around his return to the White House.
The Current Reality: How Many Counts Does Trump Have Now?
Right now, the only "counts" that actually stuck in a courtroom are the 34 felony counts from the Manhattan hush-money trial. He was convicted on every single one of those back in May 2024.
As for the rest?
- Federal Election Interference (D.C.): All 4 counts were dismissed in late 2024.
- Classified Documents (Florida): All 40 counts were dismissed by Judge Aileen Cannon, a decision that essentially killed the federal pursuit of that case.
- Georgia RICO Case: Originally 13 counts (later reduced), but the entire thing was dropped in November 2025 by the special prosecutor who took over after Fani Willis was removed.
So, if someone asks you today how many counts he has, the answer is sort of a "it depends on what you mean." He has 34 convictions on his record. He has zero active criminal counts pending trial. The legal "wall" basically crumbled the moment he secured his second term.
The 34 Counts in New York: The Only Ones That Made It
The New York case was always the "first" one, and ironically, it’s the only one that finished. These counts weren't about the money itself—paying off Stormy Daniels isn't a crime in New York. The crime was Falsifying Business Records in the First Degree.
Prosecutors argued that Trump tucked those payments away under "legal expenses" to hide a bigger scheme to influence the 2016 election. A jury of twelve New Yorkers agreed.
Even though he's back in the Oval Office, those 34 counts are still there on paper. Just recently, in January 2025, Judge Juan Merchan sentenced him to an "unconditional discharge." Basically, that's a legal way of saying, "You're guilty, but we aren't going to put you in jail or on probation because you're the President."
It’s a weird legal limbo. He’s a convicted felon, but one with the keys to the nuclear codes.
Why the Other 54 Counts Disappeared
It feels like a magic trick, doesn't it? One day you’re facing nearly 90 charges, and the next, you’re basically in the clear.
The federal cases—the ones handled by Jack Smith—died because of a long-standing Department of Justice (DOJ) policy. You can't prosecute a sitting president. Period. Once Trump won the 2024 election, the DOJ moved to wrap things up. Smith didn't have much of a choice.
The Florida Documents Mess
Judge Aileen Cannon threw out the 40 counts in the classified documents case on a technicality that experts are still arguing about. She ruled that Jack Smith’s appointment as Special Counsel was unconstitutional.
People were shocked. Usually, these cases go to a jury. Not this one.
The Georgia Collapse
Georgia was supposed to be the "big one" because it was a RICO case—the kind of thing they use to take down the Mob. At the start, Trump had 13 counts against him there.
Then came the drama with Fani Willis and Nathan Wade. After months of hearings about their personal relationship, an appeals court eventually pushed Willis off the case. By November 2025, the new prosecutor, Pete Skandalakis, looked at the situation and decided to drop everything. He cited "structural limitations" and the fact that you can't really try a sitting president in state court either without causing a constitutional meltdown.
What Most People Get Wrong About the Numbers
A common mistake is thinking that "counts" and "cases" are the same thing. They aren't.
Trump had four cases, but those cases contained those 88 original counts.
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Another thing people miss? The civil counts. While we usually talk about the criminal stuff, don't forget the New York civil fraud case. Judge Arthur Engoron found Trump liable for fraud—essentially "counts" of lying about his net worth to banks. That didn't come with jail time, but it did come with a massive fine of nearly $355 million (plus a mountain of interest).
The "Immunity" Factor
We can't talk about how many counts Trump has without mentioning the Supreme Court. Their ruling in Trump v. United States changed the game.
They decided that presidents have "presumptive immunity" for official acts. This didn't just help him in the federal cases; it gave his lawyers the tools to delay the New York sentencing and eventually get the Georgia case dismantled. It turned a legal marathon into a dead end for prosecutors.
What Happens Next?
Honestly, the legal battle has shifted from "Will he go to jail?" to "Who's going to pay the bill?"
Right now, a huge fight is brewing in Georgia. Trump is actually trying to get the state to pay his $6.2 million in legal fees. There’s a new law in Georgia that says if a case is dismissed because of prosecutorial misconduct, the state has to pay the defendant's lawyers.
The current prosecutor in Georgia is fighting this, calling the law unconstitutional. It’s a wild reversal of fortunes.
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Actionable Insights for Following the Story:
- Ignore the "90 charges" talk: That's old news. If you see a headline using that number, it’s outdated.
- Watch the Appeals: Trump’s team is still trying to get the 34 New York convictions overturned entirely. If they succeed, he goes from "34 counts" to zero.
- Check the Georgia Fee Battle: This will be the next major court ruling. It’s no longer about his guilt, but about whether taxpayers are on the hook for his defense.
- Monitor the New York Civil Case: This is where the actual money is. Unlike the criminal counts, the civil judgments are much harder to "pardon" or dismiss through executive power.
The saga of how many counts Trump has is mostly a story of a legal wave that swelled up to a massive height and then broke just before it hit the shore. He remains the first president with a felony record, but for now, the courtroom drama has been replaced by the realities of a second term.
Next Steps to Stay Informed:
Keep an eye on the New York Appellate Division's upcoming schedule. They are expected to hear arguments on whether the hush-money conviction should be vacated based on the Supreme Court's immunity ruling. Also, look for the Georgia Supreme Court's take on the legal fee reimbursement law, as that will set a massive precedent for future "lawfare" cases.