Trump found guilty on all counts in first-ever criminal trial of a former president

ALSO READ: Ruby red seat primed to flip as fed-up Republican ditches MAGA — and GOP distracted: Dem

A New York City jury found former President Donald Trump guilty on several counts of falsifying business records to conceal hush money payments ahead of the 2016 presidential records, according to breaking reports.

Jurors spent fewer than 11 hours deliberating and had only a few specific questions. One related to the testimony of former National Enquirer/AMI chief David Pecker and another requested a re-reading of the jury instructions.

At the close of the second day of deliberation, the jury was told that they would be sent home at 6 p.m. EST. The judge announced that he would allow jurors to go home at approximately 4:30 p.m., and the jurors responded by saying they have a verdict and need about 30 minutes to fill out the form, MSNBC reported on air.

The historic decision represents the first time a panel of jurors determined the guilt of a former president on criminal charges.

Trump's sentencing is scheduled for July 11 at 10 a.m. ET.

Trump maintained his innocence throughout the six-week trial that saw a former fixer, adult film star, and ex-tabloid publisher take the stand to testify about catch-and-kill schemes linked to salacious stories and six-figure payments made in secret.

Dramatic moments saw Stormy Daniels turning the tables on Trump attorney Susan Necheles, Michael Cohen admitting he stole from Trump, and Hope Hicks bursting into sudden tears.

A furious Justice Juan Merchan made the "unbelievable" decision to clear his courtroom to chastise one of Trump's two defense witnesses, attorney Robert Costello.

Quieter moments saw Trump taking frequent "bonafide" naps, or, as he put it, closing his "beautiful blue eyes."

ALSO READ: ‘Strategy and manipulation’: Artist draws truth from Trump’s face at hush money trial

Spectators also saw Trump dragging family members and MAGA Republican allies to stand behind him, sometimes even in matching blue blazers and red ties, in Manhattan criminal court.

While even Oscar-winner Robert De Niro made an appearance outside the courthouse, Trump's wife Melania was notably absent.

Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg's criminal case, the first to go to trial, is one of four the former president faces.

Trump also stands accused of election racketeering in Georgia, election interference in Washington D.C., and Espionage Act violations in Florida.

In each, Trump has pleaded not guilty and raised the specter of a political witch hunt targeting President Joe Biden's chief political rival in the upcoming presidential election.

ALSO READ: Trump vs. history: Former presidents typically implode on their comeback tours

Jurors began deliberations on Wednesday.

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MAGA 'new reality' set to shatter in internal 'civil war': analysis

MAGA figureheads already divided over the Iran war and Donald Trump's administration could be facing a new issue that could drive the wedge further.

Former pro-Trump figures like Tucker Carlson and Marjorie Taylor Greene have softened on the president and made it known they do not agree with his policy in Iran. While this issue has divided the movement, there could be further trouble for the MAGA faithful over issues of immigration and support of Israel. Political analyst Jason Okundaye, writing in The Guardian, suggested MAGA could sink under the stress of yet another civil war.

Okundaye wrote, "Now that such key figures have turned on Trump, we are left with a political movement that has a clear image crisis. They are embroiled in a 'MAGA civil war' – not just over Iran but a range of issues, including the administration’s approach to Israel and immigration.

"Political infighting in itself is unremarkable – we are well familiar with factionalism, media briefings and open challenges to leaders from their own side. But that is usually mediated through political parties, their bureaucracies and memberships.

"What we have here instead is in effect a series of personality contests, taking place between people whose priority is their own sphere of influence, rather than a political engine larger than themselves. This new reality reflects the design of the online, algorithmic universe that they serve, in which outrage, conflict and novelty are rewarded and thus economically incentivised.

"That is why Owens can openly laugh at a skit mocking Erika Kirk, discussing it on her show and promoting conspiracy theories about her takeover of TPUSA."

Okundaye went on to suggest the MAGA implosion set to come as a result of these disagreements is a warning sign for future political projects on either side of the debate.

"The takeaway for any political project is simple: hitch yourself to personalities whose voices you cannot discipline, and the coalition you build will implode on contact with the realities of office," he wrote.

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'Absolutely bonkers': Trump stuns after praising ‘Allah’ in curse-laden Easter message

President Donald Trump left onlookers baffled on Easter Sunday after, rather than issuing a customary message for the Christian holiday, he praised “Allah” – the Arabic word for God – while delivering a profanity-laced threat to destroy civilian infrastructure, actions that would likely constitute war crimes.

Trump’s outburst comes after several failed attempts to force Iran to re-open the Strait of Hormuz, a critical shipping channel that Tehran has denied access to for U.S.-aligned vessels in response to U.S.-Israeli attacks.

“Open the F----- Strait, you crazy bastards, or you’ll be living in Hell – JUST WATCH! Praise be to Allah,” Trump wrote on his social media platform Truth Social.

His profanity on Easter Sunday, coupled with his praise for Allah on the foundational Christian holiday, left even self-proclaimed MAGA supporters confused.

“Is President Trump a Muslim? Why would he praise Allah?” wrote X user “John,” a self-described “proud MAGA” supporter, in a social media post on X.

Others were equally taken aback by the president’s bizarre Easter Sunday message.

“Quite the Easter morning message,” noted Zack Stanton, a deputy managing editor for MS NOW.

“Great Easter message from the leader of the party of Christian values,” quipped author Luke Epplin to their more than 8,000 followers on X.

Some onlookers pointed to Trump’s Easter Sunday message as evidence of the president’s alleged mental decline.

“He has gone absolutely bonkers,” wrote X user “Roti Khol Deyo,” an infrequent political commentator, to their more than 14,000 followers.

“He’s having a nervous breakdown,” wrote X user “Another,” an anti-Trump social democracy advocate in a social media post on X.


Trump's 'on the nose' statement shows president has finally lost it: analysis

Donald Trump has made a rare statement that lines up with reality, according to a political commentator who says the president has "lost his mojo".

Jonathan Cohn, writing in The Bulwark, suggested Trump had "lost his mojo" during a recent speech where the usually flippant Commander-in-Chief called out cold, hard facts. Whether he did so intentionally remains unclear, but Cohn believes that Trump's usually braggadocious, reality-bending manner was nowhere to be found when he addressed his plans for the future of Iran.

Trump surprised political analysts earlier this week when he made a speech at the Easter luncheon at the White House on Wednesday.

He said, "We’re fighting wars, we can’t take care of daycare. You’ve got to let a state take care of daycare, and they should pay for it, too. They should pay—they’ll have to raise their taxes, but they should pay for it. And we could lower our taxes a little bit to them, to make up for—but we—it’s not possible for us to take care of daycare, Medicaid, Medicare, all these individual things.

"They can do it on a state basis. You can’t do it on a federal [basis]. We have to take care of one thing: military protection. We have to guard the country."

Cohn believes this talk from the president is a rare sighting from Trump, who is aware of the economic crisis his government is facing.

"Typically, Republican leaders try very hard to deny they are starving social programs to fund the military, leaving Democrats to make the case on their own," Cohn wrote. "Yet here was Trump coming right out and saying it.

"And while the president frequently blurts out statements that have no bearing on reality, in this case his description of how he’d like to rearrange federal spending priorities was pretty much on the nose.

"In fact, just two days after he made those remarks, his administration released its budget for fiscal year 2027. It envisions $1.5 trillion [in spending] for defense, then proposes to offset that cost with a 10 percent reduction in domestic spending.

"Among the casualties would be a program that helps low-income Americans pay for heating and cooling—yes, right at a time when electricity prices are on the rise."

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