The 2024 presidential campaign has been dramatically shaken by Donald Trump’s historic criminal conviction, setting the stage for an unpredictable race. Trump swiftly pivoted from the courtroom to the campaign trail, declaring himself a “political prisoner” following his conviction on all 34 charges in his New York hush-money trial.
On Friday, Trump planned to address the public from Trump Tower in New York. Besides the New York case, he faces more serious indictments related to his efforts to overturn the 2020 election and for mishandling classified documents in Florida. These cases are unlikely to reach trial before the November election.
Trump has turned what would typically ruin a political career into a rallying cry, likening himself to political prisoners like Nelson Mandela and fueling his narrative about a “deep state” conspiracy against him.
President Joe Biden has refrained from commenting directly on Trump’s legal troubles, aiming to avoid Republican accusations of interfering with the justice system. Biden’s campaign, however, emphasized that “no one is above the law” and highlighted the importance of the upcoming election, noting the significant threat Trump poses to democracy.
While Biden remained silent on the New York events, his Friday schedule included public engagements with opportunities to address the media, such as talks with the Belgian prime minister and a celebration for the Kansas City Chiefs, the Super Bowl champions.
Trump’s conviction marks the first time a former US president has been found guilty of a crime. If he wins the November 5 election and replaces Biden, it would set a new and unprecedented record.
The jury convicted Trump of falsifying business records to conceal a payment intended to silence adult film star Stormy Daniels, preventing her from revealing an alleged sexual encounter that could have jeopardized his 2016 campaign against Hillary Clinton. Prosecutors argued that the hush money and its cover-up were part of a broader scheme to mislead voters about Trump’s behavior.
Although Trump theoretically faces up to four years in prison for each count, he is more likely to receive probation. Sentencing is scheduled for July 11, just days before the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, where Trump is expected to secure the party’s nomination.
Independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy predicted on social media that the New York trial would “backfire.” Political analyst Keith Gaddie of Texas Christian University suggested the conviction’s impact on the election remains uncertain, noting it might sway votes in critical swing states and influence tight races.
