Donald Trump Becomes First US President Sentenced as Felon but Avoids Jail

Donald Trump made history today by becoming the first U.S. president to be sentenced as a felon after a court upheld his conviction in a hush money case. Despite the conviction, he will avoid jail time or penalties, as he is set to assume the presidency for a second term on January 20.

The charges stemmed from unaccounted payments made to a porn star, with Trump being sentenced to an "unconditional discharge." This sentence allows a judgment of conviction without imposing penalties, reflecting the legal immunity granted to the President while in office and beyond.

New York Judge Juan Merchan stated during the ruling:
"This court has determined that the only lawful sentence that permits entry of a judgment of conviction without encroaching on the highest office of the land is an unconditional discharge."

Trump, who attended the court proceedings virtually, expressed no concern about potential jail time, given his impending immunity as President.

The case highlights a rare intersection of legal accountability and constitutional protections for the highest office in the United States.