Trump is convicted of fraud, but returns to the White House protected by immunity

The sentence that makes Donald Trump the first criminally convicted president to return to the White House is yet another symbol of the moral collapse of the political and legal system in the United States.

This Friday (10), ten days before taking office for a second term, the Republican was sentenced in the case involving the payment of US$130,000 (around R$415,000 at the time) to silence former porn actress Stormy Daniels, during the 2016 presidential campaign.

Despite his conviction on 34 counts of accounting fraud, Trump will not face prison, fines or any other type of punishment.

New York State Court Judge Juan Merchan ordered an “unconditional discharge” for Trump, preserving the jury’s verdict that found him guilty but preventing the sentence from interfering with his presidential duties. This decision highlights how the North American system is structured to protect political and economic elites, even in the face of clear crimes.

Merchan’s decision was based on the Supreme Court’s interpretation that grants presidential immunity to ensure that a president can perform his duties without “intrusion.”

“This court determined that the only viable sentence would be unconditional discharge, to avoid an invasion of the highest office in the country,” said the judge during the hearing. Still, he highlighted that the protection of the position does not reduce the seriousness of the crimes.

Trump used the decision to reiterate his narrative of political persecution, characterizing the trial as a “witch hunt” promoted by his Democratic opponents. On his social network Truth Social, he declared: “The radical Democrats have added yet another pathetic defeat. There is no case, there never was a case, and this farce deserves to be completely annulled.”

What the conviction represents

Although symbolic, the conviction marks a historic moment: Donald Trump becomes the first president of the United States to take office as a convicted criminal. The Republican’s actions, however, are far from an isolated deviation. The case reflects the deepening moral crisis of North American capitalism, where the elite uses the judicial system to preserve their interests and neutralize responsibility for their crimes.

The accounting frauds that led to Trump’s conviction were carried out to hide payments intended to protect his public image during the 2016 campaign. Despite being a crime punishable by up to four years in prison, Trump’s privileged position and the fact that he has resumed the presidency avoided any more severe penalty.

International criticism and parallel with other authoritarian governments

The Trump case not only exposes the flaws in the US political system, but also serves as a warning about the rise of populist and authoritarian leaders around the world. Trump’s stay in power, even after multiple accusations of illegal conduct, highlights how the far right manipulates the democratic structure to consolidate its position.

In a context of international crisis, Trump’s return to the White House is also a warning sign for democratic and popular movements that face conservatism and the extreme right. The lenient sentence is an example of how the capitalist system protects those who represent its interests, while getting tough on the working class and progressive movements.