Trump to be sentenced over hush money conviction today as inauguration looms after Supreme Court verdict: Live
President-elect to appear virtually in Manhattan Criminal Court on Friday but has already vowed to file a further appeal against a prosecution he has branded an act of ‘lawfare’ by his political enemies
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Your support makes all the difference.Donald Trump is set to be sentenced by Judge Juan Merchan in Manhattan Criminal Court on Friday morning after he was found guilty on all counts at his hush money trial last year – just 10 days before his second inauguration to the presidency.
The Supreme Court declined to stop the sentencing on Thursday, its justices ruling 5-4 in favor of allowing Judge Merchan to proceed.
The president-elect will therefore appear virtually for the sentencing hearing at 9.30am ET today, with an “unconditional discharge” sentence expected after he was convicted for falsifying business records to hide a payment to the porn star Stormy Daniels in October 2016 to ensure her silence ahead of Election Day about an extramarital sexual encounter she alleges they had a decade earlier.
Trump called the SCOTUS decision “fair” on Thursday but insisted he would be filing a fresh appeal.
Also yesterday, the president-elect attended the funeral of former president Jimmy Carter in Washington DC, sitting alongside fellow commanders-in-chief Joe Biden, Barack Obama, George W Bush and Bill Clinton.
He has otherwise been promoting his dreams of acquiring Canada and Greenland and attacking California Governor Gavin Newsom over the Los Angeles wildfires.
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Watch: Trump and Obama share laugh at Jimmy Carter’s funeral
Trump and Obama share laugh as presidents unite for Jimmy Carter’s funeral
Barack Obama and Donald Trump shared a laugh at Jimmy Carter’s funeral at the Washington National Cathedral on Thursday, 9 January. All five living current and former US presidents including Joe Biden, Bill Clinton and George W Bush were in attendance at the ceremony honoring the life of the 39th president, who died on 29 December at the age of 100. Thursday’s funeral is the final tribute to the longest-living president as the six-day proceedings come to an end. Previous funeral services and ceremonies took place at the U.S. Capitol, the Carter Presidential Center in Atlanta, and in his hometown of Plains, Georgia.
Why does Trump want to buy Greenland?
President-elect Donald Trump has argued that the U.S. should buy Greenland since his first term in the White House.
The island, with 56,000 inhabitants, is an autonomous territory of Denmark, and both the Danish government and local authorities have repeatedly said that the island is not for sale.
Gustaf Kilander reports.
Why does Donald Trump want to buy Greenland?
‘We are not for sale and will never be for sale,’ Greenland prime minister says
Trump ally says he wants to buy TikTok — but he needs help...
Shark Tank star Kevin O’Leary said he wants to buy TikTok but he needs President-elect Donald Trump’s help to pull off the deal.
Rhian Lubin reports.
Shark Tank star says he wants to buy TikTok - but needs Trump’s help
Kevin O’Leary said he has joined with the People’s Bid for TikTok, a group looking to buy the platform, in the potential multi-billion dollar deal
ICYMI: Former Proud Boys ringleader begs Trump for Jan. 6 pardon
The former leader of the Proud Boys has asked President-elect Donald Trump for a pardon.
Henry “Enrique” Tarrio once served as the national chairman of the far-right group, which federal prosecutors said played a “central role” in the breach of the Capitol building four years ago.
More than a year after he was sentenced to 22 years in prison and 36 months behind bars for his role in the Capitol riot, Tarrio has asked to be pardoned by Trump, according to a letter obtained by ABC News.
Will Trump deliver?
Kelly Rissman reports.
Former Proud Boys ringleader Enrique Tarrio begs Trump for Jan. 6 pardon
‘Henry is nothing more than a proud American that believes in true conservative values,’ his lawyer argued
Trump spoke with Supreme Court justice just hours before urging court to block hush money sentencing
Donald Trump spoke with Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito hours before the president-elect urged the nation’s high court to block his imminent sentencing date in his hush money trial.
The conservative justice told ABC News he agreed to take a call from the incoming president to recommend a law clerk for a position in his administration.
Alex Woodward reports.
Trump spoke with Alito before calling on Supreme Court to block hush money sentencing
The president-elect called the conservative justice the night before a last-ditch demand to stop his sentencing in New York
Corporations ditch diversity goals amid anti-woke backlash in new Trump era
McDonald’s announced on Monday it’s pulling pack on certain aspects of its diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) work, the latest high-profile corporation to move away from such programs amid changing legal precedent and a cultural backlash against “woke” agendas that’s only set to grow in the coming Trump administration.
Executives wrote in an open letter to employees that it was still committed to inclusion, but that the fast-food giant would retire specific diversity goals for senior leadership and end a program encouraging suppliers to increase minority leadership.
Among other factors, the Golden Arches cited the “shifting legal landscape” after the 2023 Supreme Court ruling striking down the use of race-conscious affirmative action in university admissions.
Other companies have taken a similar course.
Josh Marcus reports.
Corporations like McDonald’s ditch diversity amid anti-woke backlash in new Trump era
Companies including Walmart and Harley-Davidson have stepped back from ‘diversity, equity and inclusion’ efforts amid a changing legal and political landscape
Trump’s hush money sentencing will go ahead on Friday
The Supreme Court will not stop Donald Trump’s sentencing in his criminal hush money trial, leaving the president-elect without any remaining options to block his imminent return to Manhattan criminal court.
Trump is scheduled to face New York Justice Juan Merchan at 9 a.m. Friday — 10 days before his second inauguration to the presidency. Merchan has signalled he will issue an “unconditional discharge” sentence that will not include jail time or fines.
The president-elect will appear virtually.
On Wednesday, attorneys for the president-elect argued that the Supreme Court should intervene “to prevent grave injustice and harm to the institution of the Presidency and the operations of the federal government.”
Alex Woodward reports.
Trump’s hush money sentencing will go ahead on Friday, Supreme Court rules
5-4 decision from the nation’s high court allows Trump’s sentence to move foward 10 days before inauguration
Kinzinger tells Stephen Colbert he’s willing to go to prison in order to stand up to Trump
Former Illinois Republican congressman Adam Kinzinger appeared on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert on Monday evening and declared that he would be willing to go to prison on principle if Donald Trump chooses to persecute him once he returns to the White House.
Joe Sommerlad has the story.
Adam Kinzinger tells Stephen Colbert he’s willing to go to prison stand up to Trump
Asked why he would refuse presidential pardon offered by Joe Biden, ex-congressman answers: ‘Because I didn’t do anything wrong’
Will Trump really pardon nearly 1,600 January 6 rioters?
Donald Trump has said pardoning his supporters who took part in the January 6 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol four years ago will be one of the top priorities as he starts his new administration.
But how quickly will the pardons begin, and how far will Trump go?
Josh Marcus takes a look.
Trump could pardon nearly 1,600 January 6 rioters. Will he really do it?
Trump has suggested he might even pardon those who attacked police officers
Trump tells GOP lawmakers plans to make Canada ‘51st state’
Donald Trump and Melania arrived in Washington, D.C. for Jimmy Carter’s funeral — but the president-elect first also met with Republican lawmakers to discuss how to make Canada part of America, according to a report.
Since winning the 2024 election, Trump has repeatedly spoken about expanding the US, including plays at Canada, Greenland and the Panama Canal. Wednesday evening proved no different, when Trump reportedly met with Republican members of Congress behind-closed-doors to discuss plans to incorporate Canada into America, the Daily Mail reported.
Kelly Rissman reports.
Melania Trump joins Donald on Hill as he tells GOP plans to make Canada ‘51st state’
The former and future first couple arrived in the nation’s capital on Wednesday ahead of Jimmy Carter’s funeral
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