Donald Trump hush money trial LIVE: Former president convicted on ...

Donald Trump has been found guilty of falsifying business records to cover up an affair with a porn star, making him the first former US president in history to be criminally convicted.

With less than six months before his election rematch against Joe Biden, Trump now faces the prospect of jail, probation, or other restrictions set by the judge after a jury of 12 New Yorkers found he was part of a hush money scheme to influence the 2016 election that catapulted him to the White House.

Former US president Donald Trump in Manhattan Criminal Court this week.Credit: AP

The 77-year old Republican watched with a frowned expression as the verdict was handed down, in a decision that will reshape the 2024 race and further fracture an already divided nation.

“There was no fraud, there was no conspiracy,” Trump said before heading into the court on Thursday morning. “This is a very sad day for America. The whole world is watching.”

The 12-member jury announced it had found Trump guilty on all 34 counts he faced. Unanimity was required for any verdict.

Trump has already foreshadowed a lengthy appeal in the courts, and will continue to use the trial to fundraise and fire up his base as he campaigns to return to power.

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Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has refused to directly weigh into the guilty verdict against former US president Donald Trump but says he is not worried about Australia’s relationship with the superpower should Trump be re-elected in November.

Prime Minister Anthony AlbaneseCredit: Alex Ellinghausen

“I think it will be a lot of public focus on this verdict. Of course, this is a decision of the US court that we don’t comment where we’re not participants on court processes of other countries, and of course, the presidential election later this year is a matter for the people of the United States,” Albanese told ABC radio in Sydney this morning.

“Certainly, I obviously have a very close relationship with President Biden. I have visited there and met with him on many times.”

“I’m certainly not worried about our relationship with the United States because it’s a relationship between our peoples based upon shared values of democratic principles. We, of course, have a bit of a shared political system here: the Westminster system in the House of Representatives, the Senate system that we virtually adopted from the United States.”

Asked whether he thought Trump would stand up for Australia should be win office again, Albanese replied: “I think that people have their individual personal views on that. But as Prime Minister of Australia, it’s important that I not only not interfere in the elections on another country, but that I’m also seem to be interfering in the election.”

Albanese was also asked if Trump could even visit Australia with a criminal conviction. He replied that question was hypothetical. “I’m not going down that rabbit hole,” he said.

Donald Trump has arrived at his New York City residence Trump Tower after he was found guilty on all 34 charges.

Waving to the cameras as he arrived outside Trump Tower, the former president raised a clenched fist – a gesture he has been performing most days outside court.

CNN reports Trump is likely to remain in his New York residence for at least tonight, and won’t return to his usual residence in Florida today.

Donald Trump raises a clenched fist as he leaves court this week.Credit: Getty Images

The Republican response to the Trump hush-money case verdict has been swift and political.

Speaker of the House Mike Johnson.Credit: AP

House Speaker Mike Johnson, a Republican, posted a statement on X.

“Today is a shameful day in American history. Democrats cheered as they convicted the leader of the opposing party on ridiculous charges, predicated on the testimony of a disbarred, convicted felon. This was a purely political exercise, not a legal one ... The American people see this as lawfare, and they know it is wrong – and dangerous. President Trump will rightfully appeal this absurd verdict – and he WILL WIN!”

Republican Senator Markwayne Mullin, of Oklahoma, wrote: “This is a very dark day in American history. The far-Left has unleashed a disgraceful, unprecedented assault on the leading Republican candidate for president.”

J.D. Vance, an Ohio Republican, who has been outspoken about the trial before wrote on X:

“This isn’t justice, it’s election interference.”

Federal Opposition Leader Peter Dutton has just reacted to the news of former US president Donald Trump’s convictions on all counts in the presumptive Republican presidential nominee’s hush-money trial in New York.

Speaking on Today moments after the show interviewed Americans on the street outside the Manhattan courthouse, host Karl Stefanovic asked the Coalition leader what to make of the verdict, suggesting Trump might just use it to galvanise his political base.

Here is how Dutton responded:

Yeah, yeah. Karl, I think you’re spot on. If you look back to 2016, he won no electoral votes in New York. He’s despised there. There’s obviously two tribes here, and the one tribe who detest him and hate him. And you saw some of the emotion in some of the interviews, just then. And the other tribe love him and adore him, and for different reasons on both sides. And all it will do is reinforce the views on both of those camps, but obviously it will make for an even, you know ... more exciting election, I suppose, in November.”

Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg has praised the jurors and the prosecution team after Trump was found guilty on all charges.

“This type of white-collar prosecution is core to what we do at the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office,” Bragg said.

Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg speaks to the media after a jury found former president Donald Trump guilty on 34 felony counts of falsifying business records.Credit: AP

“Twelve everyday jurors vowed to make a decision based on the evidence and the law, and the evidence and the law alone.

“Their deliberation led them to a unanimous conclusion beyond the reasonable doubt that the defendant, Donald J. Trump, is guilty of 34 counts of falsifying business records in the first degree, to conceal a scheme to corrupt the 2016 election.

“While this defendant may be unlike any other in American history, we arrived at this trial and ultimately today in this verdict, in the same manner as every other case … by following the facts and the law, and doing so without fear or favour.”

Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg will speak at a press conference after the historic Trump guilty verdicts. Watch live below.

The lawyer for Stormy Daniels says she is “pretty emotional” following Trump’s convictions.

“It’s momentous for the country, but it really kind of hit her hard,” Clark Brewster told CNN.

“But on the other hand, she knows how hard the jurors worked, and the oath that they took and we have to respect that no man is above the law and we have to respect the system.”

Stormy Daniels testifies as a promotional image for one of her shows is displayed on a monitor.Credit: AP

At the centre of the trial were reimbursements paid to Trump’ former lawyer Michael Cohen for a $US130,000 hush money payment to porn star Stormy Daniels.

In a statement after the verdict, Cohen said, “Today is an important day for accountability and the rule of law. While it has been a difficult journey for me and my family, the truth always matters.”

Cohen’s lawyer Danya Perry told CNN her client wants “to focus on the next chapter both for himself and the country”.

Michael Cohen leaves his apartment building on his way to Manhattan Criminal Court in New York during the trial.Credit: AP