The sentencing of President-elect Donald Trump last Friday for a felony conviction, followed by his release from court, sparked intense reactions from various observers.

Describing it as an “insane spectacle,” a historian noted that it encapsulates both Trump’s popularity and the prevailing skepticism surrounding America’s political and criminal justice frameworks.

“Today’s events speak volumes about the entire Trump era,” stated Matthew Dallek, a political management professor at George Washington University. “It’s a mix of disgraceful actions combined with a serious felony conviction.”

“The fact that he endured a conviction on 34 felony counts yet managed to win the presidency again is a striking summary of American politics in 2025,” Dallek remarked, emphasizing that it marks the first instance of a former or incoming U.S. president being convicted on felony charges.

In fact, the reactions from politicians across both parties reflected this lack of trust, with some claiming the judicial outcome highlighted systemic biases.

“Americans,” Dallek continued, “are increasingly skeptical, cynical, and frustrated with the political landscape, which includes the courts, the criminal justice system, and the elected officials who brought Trump into this situation.”

Trump was convicted on May 30 in Manhattan’s Criminal Court on 34 felony charges of falsifying business records to conceal a hush-money payment made to porn star Stormy Daniels during the lead-up to the 2016 presidential election. On Friday, Judge Juan Merchan imposed an “unconditional discharge,” meaning that Trump faces no prison time or probation as he prepares to return to the White House on January 20.

Reactions to Trump’s sentencing were varied and passionate:

What did Trump himself – and the judge – say?

“This has been a very terrible experience,” Trump expressed while speaking remotely from his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida during the hearing.

“These charges were designed to tarnish my reputation so I would lose the election,” he claimed, referring to the accusations made by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg. “I am completely innocent. I did nothing wrong.”

Judge Juan Merchan, who has presided over the case from the beginning, viewed the issue differently, referencing the nature of the charges, the trial evidence, and the jury’s verdict that found Trump guilty on all 34 counts.

“This was a deliberate and ongoing deception by the leader of the free world,” Merchan stated.

Republicans rally to Trump’s defense

Senator Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn., took to X to label Trump’s sentence as “a joke and a disgrace.”

“This witch hunt and ruling,” Blackburn added, “was an insult to the American public.”

House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., voiced his support for Trump’s decision to appeal, arguing that the case “was never about the facts” and “should have never been pursued in the first place.”

“The judge egregiously distorted the American legal system by altering the law to turn a wrongful misdemeanor charge into a felony,” Johnson remarked on X. “Judge Merchan and the illogical prosecution have severely harmed our justice system.”

Democrats say Trump deserved to be punished

Democratic Representative Jasmine Crockett of Texas, who previously served as a public defender, criticized the outcome, stating that Trump received much too lenient a punishment for serious crimes, while recalling a case where she represented a 17-year-old boy who was placed on felony probation for taking candy from a school stand.

“We have a two-tiered justice system in this country,” Crockett asserted on X, “and Donald Trump occupies the tier that allows him to enter the White House without serving a single day behind bars or being put on probation after being convicted of 34 felonies.”

Nikos Passas, a criminology and criminal justice professor at Northeastern University and an expert in white-collar crime, raised concerns about the fairness of the judicial process in light of Trump’s “unconditional discharge.”

“Allowing such flexibility, particularly in felony cases, could create a situation where political influence affects legal decisions, which may undermine the public’s confidence in the justice system,” Passas stated.