How Many Felonies Does Trump Have Now? The Real Number Explained (Simply)

How Many Felonies Does Trump Have Now? The Real Number Explained (Simply)

So, you've probably seen the headlines swirling around for the last couple of years, and honestly, it’s a lot to keep track of. One day there’s a new indictment, the next there’s an appeal, and then—boom—he’s back in the White House. If you’re asking how many felonies does trump have now, the answer is actually more straightforward than the mountain of legal paperwork makes it seem.

As of right now, in January 2026, Donald Trump has 34 felony convictions.

That’s the number. It’s not 88, it’s not zero, and it hasn’t changed since that wild afternoon in May 2024 when a Manhattan jury read out the verdict. But there is a massive "but" attached to all of this regarding what those felonies actually mean for him today, especially since he’s currently serving as the 47th President of the United States.

The Manhattan 34: Where the Felonies Came From

To understand the count, we have to look at the New York "hush money" trial. This is the only case that actually made it to a jury and resulted in a conviction.

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Basically, Trump was found guilty on 34 counts of Falsifying Business Records in the First Degree. The jury decided that he had doctored internal records at the Trump Organization to hide payments made to Michael Cohen, who had paid off adult film actress Stormy Daniels before the 2016 election.

Each count represented a specific document—an invoice, a check, or a ledger entry. Because New York law considers it a felony when you falsify records to commit or conceal another crime (in this case, an election law violation), the charges were bumped up from simple misdemeanors to Class E felonies.

What happened with the sentencing?

This is where it gets kinda weird. Usually, when someone is convicted of 34 felonies, they’re looking at some serious time or at least probation. But Trump isn't exactly a "usual" defendant.

After he won the 2024 election, everything changed. His legal team argued that you can't sentence a President-elect because it would interfere with his ability to run the country. Judge Juan Merchan eventually pushed the sentencing back, and on January 10, 2025—just days before the inauguration—he sentenced Trump to an unconditional discharge.

In plain English? It means the 34 convictions stay on his record, but there is no jail time, no fine, and no probation. He walked away with a clean schedule but a permanent criminal record.

The Cases That Vanished

You might be thinking, "Wait, wasn't there a case about classified documents? And the Georgia thing?" You're right to be confused. At one point, Trump was facing a staggering 88 felony counts across four different indictments.

If you're wondering how many felonies does trump have now in those other cases, the answer is zero. Here is the breakdown of why those disappeared:

  • The Federal Classified Documents Case: This one was in Florida. Judge Aileen Cannon dismissed the entire case in July 2024, ruling that the appointment of Special Counsel Jack Smith was unconstitutional. The Department of Justice (DOJ) eventually dropped its attempts to revive it once Trump won the election.
  • The Federal Election Interference Case (Jan 6): Jack Smith also led this case in D.C. However, after the Supreme Court's ruling on presidential immunity and Trump’s subsequent election victory, the DOJ moved to dismiss the charges. Long-standing DOJ policy says you cannot prosecute a sitting president.
  • The Georgia RICO Case: This was the massive racketeering case in Fulton County involving the 2020 election results. After a ton of drama involving District Attorney Fani Willis, a special prosecutor eventually moved to dismiss the case in late 2025. It’s officially over.

Basically, the "88 charges" people used to talk about have been whittled down to just the 34 New York counts. The rest were either dismissed by judges or dropped by prosecutors because of the legal shield that comes with being the President.

Does He Still Have the Convictions?

Yes. Even though he’s the President, he is still a "convicted felon" in the eyes of New York State. Being President doesn't automatically erase a state-level conviction.

Trump has been fighting to get those 34 counts overturned entirely. His lawyers have filed multiple appeals, arguing that the Supreme Court's immunity ruling should apply to the evidence used in the New York trial. They’ve also argued that the conviction itself is a "clog" on the wheels of the executive branch.

So far, the convictions have held up on the record, but the legal battle is far from over. It’s a bit of a stalemate: New York says he's a felon; Trump says the whole thing was a "witch hunt" and should be wiped clean.

Can He Pardon Himself?

This is the million-dollar question. Since the 34 felonies are state-level crimes (New York), the President has zero power to pardon them. The U.S. Constitution only gives the President the power to pardon federal crimes.

If he wanted a pardon for the 34 felonies, he would have to get one from the Governor of New York. Given the political climate between Trump and the current New York leadership, that is... let's just say, unlikely.

Why the Number Matters

If you're looking for the current tally on how many felonies does trump have now, the number 34 is the only one that carries legal weight.

For his supporters, the number is a badge of what they see as political persecution. For his critics, it’s a historical asterisk next to his name. Regardless of how you feel about it, it’s a unique situation in American history. We have a sitting President who travels on Air Force One, meets with world leaders, and signs laws, all while having 34 felony counts on his personal record.

Actionable Takeaways:

  • Check the Appeals: The most important thing to watch now is the New York Appellate Division. If they rule in favor of Trump’s immunity argument, that 34 could actually drop to zero.
  • Distinguish State vs. Federal: Remember that his federal cases are gone. They aren't "paused"—they were dismissed. Only the New York state case remains active in the form of a conviction.
  • Ignore the "88" Figure: If you see someone still citing 88 charges, they are using outdated information from 2023. The total number of active charges he faces today is zero, as the 34 New York counts are already in the "convicted" category.

To stay updated, keep an eye on the New York court dockets specifically. While the "sentencing" phase is done via the unconditional discharge, the "appeal" phase is where the finality of those 34 felonies will be decided.