Americans across the country reacted to the shocking guilty verdict of Donald Trump in a landmark criminal trial in New York on Thursday, making him the first former U.S. president and presumptive nominee of a major political party to be convicted of a crime.
With just over five months until the presidential election, the verdict could have major political and social ramifications — or it could be met with a shrug of acceptance from the American public. People who spoke to Fox News Digital on Thursday offered a range of reactions to Trump’s conviction, including outrage, indifference and jubilation, and different predictions for how it will affect the 2024 election.
Trump was convicted of falsifying business records related to the payment of hush money to porn actress Stormy Daniels, who alleged she had a sexual relationship with Trump in 2006, a charge Trump denies, and a jury found that Trump falsified 34 business documents to conceal the payment to Daniels before the 2016 election.
Speaking in Birmingham, Michigan, Aaron told Fox News Digital that the ruling was “totally insane” and made him even more motivated to vote for Trump and donate to his campaign.
Trump says guilty verdict is a ‘scar’ on New York’s justice system, vows to ‘keep fighting’
Donald Trump arrives at Trump Tower on Thursday, May 30, 2024, after being convicted of 34 counts of first-degree falsifying business records. (Felipe Ramares for Fox News Digital)
“This is election interference,” he said. “You have a leading candidate in all the polls, he’s actually beating Biden, and they’re going after Trump in multiple states.”
Chase, also from Birmingham, Michigan, called the sentence “a total failure of our justice system.”
“I think this will give Trump even more support with his base,” he added.
Outside the Manhattan courthouse, a Trump supporter who described himself as a native New Yorker called the verdict “despicable.”
“[Trump] “He may be guilty there,” he said, pointing to the courthouse, “but not in the eyes of true New Yorkers. We support him. He’s going to be our president.”
Angel, a New York resident who was in court, said he was “shocked” by the verdict but “not shocked” that he would not be spending any time in prison. Trump has not yet been sentenced, however, and he is likely to appeal the conviction.
He told Fox News Digital that a conviction would “of course” help Trump by bolstering his support base.
Speaking outside the Manhattan courthouse, Angell said he was shocked by the guilty verdict. (Fox News Digital)
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Michael, from Staten Island, New York, praised the verdict and declined to comment on the political ramifications of a guilty verdict.
“I think this is the right verdict,” he said. “It shows that our justice system works, whether you’re rich or poor. The jury is your peers, and I think this is a great outcome for New York and for America.”
“To me, today’s issue is about justice, not about politics,” he added. “People are trying to make this a political issue, but this is not a political case. This is about the law and how it should be applied.”
Speaking from Whatcom County in northwest Washington, Tom said it took him a moment to process the news but he wasn’t surprised.
“I believe there are other indictments and charges that could result in a similar sentence, but it’s truly unfortunate that we had an individual like that in this country in the White House,” he told Fox News Digital.
“I think character still matters to people, and I hope this opens some people’s eyes and helps people realize that maybe there should be another candidate on that side,” he added.
Speaking to Fox News Digital in Clovis, California, Cora said she wasn’t surprised by the election result because “it was a political trial from start to finish,” and that she remains committed to supporting Trump in November’s election.
“I knew his flaws before he took office and I knew his good points, and the good points far outweigh the flaws,” she said, adding, “I will tell anyone I speak to that he is the person to vote for.”
Eric, also a Clovis resident, said his conviction made him feel like he was living in a “banana republic.”
“Is that how you pursue justice? Looking for crimes instead of what’s actually going on? I believe these are trumped-up charges,” he said, also attacking the credibility of star witness Michael Cohen. “This should be something that everyone should be afraid of.”
Biden camp reacts to Trump’s guilty verdict: ‘No one is above the law’
Nate, a Nashville native who was in Washington, reacted to the “big news” of Trump’s guilty verdict. (Fox News Digital)
Speaking in Washington, Nate, from Nashville, Tennessee, also said he was not surprised by the verdict.
“I’m not surprised,” he told Fox News Digital. “I haven’t been following the trial that much, to be honest with you, but knowing Trump’s term and how it’s played out, I think it probably won’t affect a lot of people who decide to vote for Trump or a lot of people who decide to vote for Biden. I feel like he’s been in and out of legal troubles his whole time as president, so I don’t know how this is going to change anything, but it seems like pretty big news.”
Steve, who lives in Chicago, Illinois, said the guilty verdict is the “best news” he’s heard in a long time, but he is skeptical the verdict will have any impact on the campaign.
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“I don’t know, because people seem to be so fixated on this guy and ignore reality. I hope people open their eyes a little bit and realize what a weirdo he is,” he said. “He’s a despicable guy.”
“He’s clearly guilty,” said Jack, who lives in Chicago.
Dennis, from suburban Chicago, told Fox News Digital he was surprised by the guilty verdict given how Trump has survived tough situations in the past.
“I’m very surprised because normally he seems to get by just fine,” she said. “He’s managed to get by and he’s doing well, but maybe this is proof that if you do something wrong, you do get punished.”
Dennis, who lives in Chicago, said he was surprised by the guilty verdict given Trump’s history of staying out of trouble in the past. (Fox News Digital)
While she does not support Trump, she predicted he would be re-elected, saying the trial would not affect the election outcome.
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“I’m not voting for him, but I think he’s going to win,” she said. “People are going to vote for who they want to vote for, and if they think he’s the person they want in power, they’re going to vote for him no matter what, so I don’t think it’s going to make any difference.”
“If you commit a crime, you go to prison,” said Jay, a native of Peoria, Illinois, who predicted the guilty verdict would hurt Trump’s electoral chances in November.
“It’s going to be interesting because nothing like this has ever happened before. I think he might not win because of this,” he said.
Jimmy, from West Bloomfield, Michigan, a suburb of Detroit, said the verdict was “unacceptable” and called on the former president to appeal.
“This is just an accounting issue, not a crime. [one]”This is all about campaigning, it’s about elections,” he said.
Trump continued to deny any wrongdoing after his conviction, calling the trial a “rigged” and a “disgrace” and saying the American people would make the true verdict in November. Trump, who has secured the Republican nomination for 2024, is now running for president as a convicted felon, and his other pending lawsuits seeking to unseat Biden will continue to cast a shadow over the campaign.
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Nicholas Lanham reported from outside the courthouse in Manhattan, New York City, Joseph Wolfson reported from Chicago, Illinois, Joshua Nelson reported from Detroit, Michigan, Hannah Lambert reported from Bellingham, Washington, and Christopher Lopez reported from Clovis, California.
