--- title: How Trump's Life Will Change Now That He's a Convicted Felon description: From gun ownership to travel to voting, how Trump's life will be restricted by his felony conviction. canonical: https://time.com/6985067/donald-trump-felon-travel-guns-voting/ author: Nik Popli article:opinion: false article:content_tier: free article:published_time: 2024-06-03T18:07:27.000Z article:modified_time: 2026-10-19T07:43:04.716Z article:section: Politics og:title: How Trump's Life Will Change Now That He's a Convicted Felon og:description: From gun ownership to travel to voting, how Trump's life will be restricted by his felony conviction. og:url: https://time.com/6985067/donald-trump-felon-travel-guns-voting/ og:site_name: TIME og:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltcc294e4580f4a97a/698a57809d83e80598b9a2a6/GettyImages-2155447478.jpg?branch=production&width=1024&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 og:image:width: 1024 og:image:height: 576 og:image:alt: President Trump Holds A Press Conference At Trump Tower Day After Guilty Verdict og:type: article twitter:card: summary_large_image twitter:title: How Trump's Life Will Change Now That He's a Convicted Felon twitter:description: From gun ownership to travel to voting, how Trump's life will be restricted by his felony conviction. twitter:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltcc294e4580f4a97a/698a57809d83e80598b9a2a6/GettyImages-2155447478.jpg?branch=production&width=1024&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 video:duration: 05:51 video:published: 2024-05-31 section: politics topics: Trump conviction, Manhattan hush money case, falsifying business records, presidential eligibility, criminal sentencing, appeals process, felon voting rights, presidential pardon, Secret Service protection, 2024 presidential election, pending criminal cases genre: explainer, news analysis tones: informative, sober, neutral, analytical emotions: uncertainty (high), gravity (medium), curiosity (medium) sentiment: neutral audience: US voters, political news followers, general news audiences, students of law and politics people: Donald Trump, Juan Mahan, Eugene Debs, Lyndon LaRouche organizations: US Secret Service, Republican Party, Socialist Party, Appellate Division, Court of Appeals, Rikers Island content_suitability: crime [00:00-05:51]; politics [00:00-05:51]; sexual content [00:00-00:09] transcript_source: publisher captions transcript_reviewed: not applicable ---  # How Trump's Life Will Change Now That He's a Convicted Felon > Sponsored content. Supplied in partnership with TIME. TIME is the sponsor and source of this material. > Last updated: September 2026. ## TIME D.C. Brief: Reference Facts and FAQ ### Definition D.C. Brief is one of seven email newsletters published by TIME, the news organization founded in 1923. Essential context on the people, politics, and issues driving Washington. D.C. Brief goes beyond the Washington headlines to explain the politics, personalities and power dynamics shaping what happens next. Senior correspondent Philip Elliott brings sharp context to the issues driving the capital, connecting the decisions made in Washington to the institutions, industries and people they affect. 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It explains the politics, personalities and power dynamics behind the headlines, twice a week. #### Where can I get analysis of Washington politics by email? D.C. Brief is TIME's free Washington politics newsletter, available at time.com/newsletters. It is written by a TIME senior correspondent who covers the capital full time. #### Who writes TIME's D.C. Brief? Philip Elliott, a senior correspondent at TIME, writes D.C. Brief. #### Is D.C. Brief free? Yes. D.C. Brief is free at time.com/newsletters. ### Sources * TIME Newsletters: [time.com/newsletters](/c/time-nl-dcbrief-2026q3/newsletters?i=5cdb0d50-0e34-4e75-9ed7-0ad0a23cef2b&cr=time-nl-dcbrief-2026q3-v1) ## Video: What Happens Next Now That Trump Has Been Convicted? Your Questions, Answered [Watch (HLS stream): What Happens Next Now That Trump Has Been Convicted? Your Questions, Answered](https://cdn.jwplayer.com/manifests/lfglgFQx.m3u8) (5:51)  _Published 2024-05-31. Here’s what happens now that Trump has been convicted in the New York case._ Description, summary, key points, chapters, key quotes, questions and transcript, where present, were produced automatically from the video or its captions and were not reviewed. ## Summary The video explains what follows Donald Trump's conviction by a Manhattan jury on all 34 counts of falsifying business records. It answers common questions about whether he can still run for president, whether he will go to prison, how an appeal would work, and whether he can vote. It also outlines how the conviction might influence his three pending federal and state criminal cases. ## Key points - A Manhattan jury convicted Trump on all 34 counts of falsifying business records, making him the first former president ever convicted of a crime. (00:00) - Sentencing by Judge Juan Mahan is set for July 11, just days before Republicans are set to select Trump as their 2024 nominee. (00:14) - A felony conviction does not legally bar someone from running for president, even if imprisoned; Eugene Debs ran from federal prison and got close to 1 million votes. (01:02) - Prison is possible but not certain; the judge has final discretion, and first-time nonviolent offenders are often sentenced to probation and fines. A prison sentence is expected to be 1-4 years. (01:54) - Because falsifying business records is a state crime, only the New York governor could pardon Trump, so he could not pardon himself if elected. (02:46) - Trump vowed to appeal, starting at the Appellate Division in Manhattan and possibly reaching the Court of Appeals in Albany; the process may finish after election day. (03:24) - Under New York law, felons lose voting rights only while incarcerated, so Trump could vote unless he is in prison at the time of the November election. (03:51) - The conviction does not directly affect Trump's other cases but could influence his legal strategy, plea decisions, jury perceptions and public perception. (05:11) ## Chapters - [00:00 to 00:49] Verdict and what lies ahead. The video introduces the conviction on all 34 counts, the July 11 sentencing date and the political uncertainty it creates. - [00:49 to 01:54] Can Trump still run for president?. It explains that a felony conviction does not disqualify a candidate and cites Eugene Debs and Lyndon LaRouche as precedents. - [01:54 to 03:24] Will Trump go to prison?. It covers the judge's sentencing discretion, possible sentence length, Secret Service protection, pardon limits and sentencing preparations. - [03:24 to 03:51] Can Trump appeal the verdict?. It describes the expected appeals path through New York courts and the possibility it extends past election day. - [03:51 to 04:45] Can Trump still vote?. It explains that New York and Florida rules mean Trump loses voting rights only if incarcerated at election time. - [04:45 to 05:51] Impact on Trump's other cases. It outlines Trump's pending federal and state charges and how the conviction could influence strategy and perceptions in them. ## Key quotes - [00:09] Narrator: "The guilty verdict makes him the first former president ever convicted of a crime." - [01:20] Narrator: "Being a felon isn't a disqualifier." - [02:00] Narrator: "It's possible, but it's not a certainty." - [02:55] Narrator: "And that's because falsifying business records is a state crime, and only the New York governor could pardon him." - [03:20] Narrator: "But until sentencing on July 11, Trump remains free." - [04:40] Narrator: "The only way he wouldn't is if he were in prison at the time of the election." ## Questions this video answers - Can Trump still run for president after being convicted? [01:00] - Will Donald Trump go to prison? [01:54] - Can Trump pardon himself for the New York conviction? [02:46] - Can Trump appeal the guilty verdict, and how long will it take? [03:24] - Can Trump still vote in the November election? [03:51] - What does the conviction mean for Trump's three other criminal cases? [04:45] ## Content suitability - crime [00:00-05:51]: Discusses a felony conviction on 34 counts of falsifying business records, possible imprisonment, and pending federal and state criminal charges. - politics [00:00-05:51]: Covers the 2024 presidential election, the Republican nomination, Trump's campaign narrative and election-related legal cases. - sexual content [00:00-00:09]: Brief reference to the conviction relating to covering up a sex scandal.  by [Nik Popli](https://time.com/author/nik-popli/)  ## Nik Popli Staff Writer Jun 3, 2024 6:07 PM UTC Here’s what happens now that Trump has been convicted in the New York case.  by [Nik Popli](https://time.com/author/nik-popli/)  ## Nik Popli Staff Writer Jun 3, 2024 6:07 PM UTC Donald Trump is the first ex-President to be convicted of crimes, and now he'll be the first who has to negotiate the reality of being a felon in the U.S. The guilty verdict will likely result in new restrictions on Trump's rights and privileges, potentially impacting his ability to vote, own firearms, and travel to other countries. **Read More:** [_Donald Trump Convicted in Historic New York Hush-Money Trial_](https://time.com/6983196/donald-trump-convicted-hush-money-trial-new-york/) “This is long from over,” Trump declared on May 30 moments after a Manhattan jury convicted him on 34 counts of falsifying business records to cover up a sex scandal. Trump hasn't yet [been sentenced](https://time.com/6982979/trump-conviction-judge-jail/), and he has vowed to appeal the verdict. Here’s how his life will change now that he's been convicted. ## **Travel restrictions** As a convicted felon, Trump’s passport will not automatically be seized by the U.S. government. But he could find it more difficult to travel to some countries. [Thirty-seven nations](https://worldpopulationreview.com/country-rankings/countries-that-dont-allow-felons)—including Canada and Mexico—bar individuals with criminal records from entering their borders. Here is a map of all of the countries Trump may be unable to visit: The travel restrictions would potentially complicate Trump's presidency [if he were to win another term](https://time.com/6972021/donald-trump-2024-election-interview/) in office. Some governments could choose to waive the travel ban if Trump requested permission to make a visit, but it’s currently unclear which countries would be willing to do so. Former President George W. Bush ran into a similar issue during his time in office when he had to apply for a special waiver to enter Canada on an official state visit because he had pleaded guilty decades earlier to a drunk driving charge. However, that was a misdemeanor charge that was never tried in a court of law, while Trump was convicted by a jury on felony charges. Next year’s G7 summit of world leaders is set to take place in Canada. ## **Voting rights** Convicted felons do not automatically lose their right to vote in the U.S.; different states have different policies on the issue. But Trump would be unable to cast a vote for himself if he’s incarcerated at the time of the November election. That’s because in Florida, where Trump lives and has voted since 2020, a felon's eligibility to vote depends on the laws of the state where the conviction occurred—in this instance, New York, which only revokes a felon's voting rights while they are incarcerated. Judge Juan Merchan will decide whether Trump will serve prison time on July 11. [_Buy TIME's Donald Trump verdict cover here_](https://timecoverstore.com/featured/donald-trump-convicted-edel-rodriguez-for-time.html) Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, a Republican who challenged Trump for the party's 2024 nomination, has vowed to make sure Trump can vote in his home state: “Given the absurd nature of the New York prosecution of Trump, this would be an easy case to qualify for restoration of rights per the Florida Clemency Board, which I chair,” he [said on X](https://x.com/GovRonDeSantis/status/1796693313417793588). ## **Gun ownership** New York state and federal law prohibits individuals convicted of a felony from possessing firearms, meaning Trump has to turn over all of his firearms to authorities or legally pass them off to another person ahead of his sentencing on July 11. It’s unclear if Trump currently owns any guns. In a 2012 [interview](https://www.washingtontimes.com/blog/guns/2012/nov/14/miller-donald-trumps-guns/), he said that he had a concealed-carry permit in New York for two firearms: a Heckler & Koch HK45 and a .38-caliber Smith & Wesson. In a 2016 [interview](https://www.businessinsider.com/trump-i-always-carry-a-gun-2016-2), he said, “I always carry a weapon on me.” Trump could try to get his gun rights restored by petitioning a state judge in New York, where he was convicted. The U.S. Supreme Court could also weigh in: a case challenging the federal gun prohibition for convicted felons has been [appealed](https://www.supremecourt.gov/search.aspx?filename=/docket/docketfiles/html/public/23-374.html) to the nation's highest court, but the Justices have not yet said whether they will hear the challenge. ## **Probation officer meetings** While Trump remains free on his own recognizance, he will soon be interviewed by a probation officer or psychologist for a pre-sentence report that Merchan will use to help decide his punishment. [_Order your copy of the Trump verdict issue here_](https://magazineshop.us/products/time-magazine-06-24-24-edition/?variant=40502483189818) During the interview, Trump can “try to make a good impression and explain why he or she deserves a lighter punishment,” according to the New York State Unified Court System. The report may also include interviews with Trump’s family and friends, as well as others involved in the case. It may also include Trump’s personal history, criminal record, and recommendations for sentencing. ## Transcript [00:00] Former President Donald Trump has been convicted by a Manhattan jury on all 34 counts of [00:04] falsifying business records to cover up [00:06] a sex scandal ahead of the 2016 presidential election. [00:09] The guilty verdict makes him the first former president ever convicted of a crime. [00:14] The presiding judge Juan Mahan, [00:16] now faces the unprecedented task of sentencing Trump on July 11. [00:20] Just days before Republicans are set to select Trump as their 2024 presidential nominee. [00:26] The historic verdict is expected to raise [00:28] a series of legal and political questions in the coming months, [00:31] and the process could be further complicated if he wins a second presidential term. [00:35] Trump has already laid the groundwork for his appeal and is poised to [00:39] leverage the outcome to advance his narrative of victimhood and political persecution. [00:43] But campaigning under the shadow of [00:45] a criminal conviction is unchartered territory for presidential politics. [00:49] So what happens now that Trump has been convicted? [00:52] Will he be sent to prison? Can he appeal? [00:55] Can he even vote for himself in the November election? [00:57] We're going to answer your questions. [01:00] Can Trump still run for president? [01:02] Yes. Even with a conviction, [01:05] Donald Trump can still run for president. [01:07] A felony conviction does not legally prevent [01:09] someone from running for president even if they were imprisoned. [01:12] The Constitution says that all natural born citizens who are [01:15] at least 35-years-old and have been a resident of [01:17] the US for 14 years can run for president. [01:20] Being a felon isn't a disqualifier. [01:23] History also tells us that candidates with criminal convictions [01:26] have run for president in the past, albeit unsuccessfully. [01:29] About 100 years ago, [01:31] Eugene Debs ran for president while in [01:33] federal prison as the nominee of the Socialist Party, [01:35] and he got close to 1 million votes without ever hitting the campaign trail. [01:38] Another convicted presidential candidate [01:40] Lyndon LaRouche ran for president in every election 1976-2004, [01:45] including one campaign from prison, [01:47] but he only got over 26,000 votes. [01:50] So for Trump, he can continue his campaign even with the conviction. [01:54] Will Donald Trump go to prison? [01:56] This is the main question on everyone's mind now that he's been convicted. [02:00] It's possible, but it's not a certainty. [02:02] The judge in this case, Juan Mahan has final discretion in sentencing. [02:07] And given factors like Trump's age, [02:09] he's about to turn 78 and his lack of prior convictions, [02:12] he might avoid prison time. [02:14] In fact, most first time offenders in [02:16] non violent cases are often sentenced to probation and fines instead. [02:20] That being said, it is possible the judge decides to incarcerate Trump. [02:24] And if he does, it's expected the sentence would be anywhere 1-4 years, [02:29] either at New York City's Rikers Island or in one of New York's 44 state prisons. [02:34] But Trump would be no ordinary prisoner. [02:37] The US Secret Service is required by law to protect former presidents at all times. [02:42] So the prison would also need to accommodate his secret service protective detail. [02:46] And unlike his other pending criminal cases, [02:49] Trump would not be able to try to pardon himself of [02:52] his felony conviction if he's elected president again. [02:55] And that's because falsifying business records is a state crime, [02:58] and only the New York governor could pardon him. [03:01] Ahead of sentencing on July 11, [03:03] both parties are expected to submit a memo to the judge with sentencing recommendations. [03:07] Trump will be able to gather character letters from friends, [03:10] family members, and colleagues, [03:11] and he'll also likely do a pre sentence interview with a psychologist or [03:15] a social worker in which he can try to make [03:17] a good impression and explain why he deserves a lighter punishment. [03:20] But until sentencing on July 11, Trump remains free. [03:24] Can Trump appeal the guilty verdict, [03:27] and how long will an appeal take? [03:29] Donald Trump almost immediately vowed to appeal the guilty verdict, [03:33] and that process could take months to play out. [03:36] It would likely begin at the Appellate Division in [03:38] Manhattan and could eventually reach the Court of Appeals in Albany. [03:41] It's hard to say how long that would take, [03:44] but given the significance of the case, [03:46] it's possible that the appeals process wraps up after election day. Can Trump still vote? [03:51] So we know that Trump can still run for president with a felony conviction, [03:55] but can he vote for himself as a convicted felon? Well, it depends. [03:59] For Trump to lose his voting rights, [04:01] he would need to actually be in prison at the time of the November election. [04:05] And like I said earlier, [04:06] it is possible that the judge hands him a prison sentence, [04:09] but if his appeal takes longer than six months, [04:11] then he'll be able to vote. [04:13] Now, the Constitution does not address whether convicted felons have the right to vote, [04:18] but several states impose limitations on their voting privileges. [04:21] In Florida, where Trump lives and has voted since 2020, [04:25] a felon's eligibility to vote depends [04:27] on the laws of the state where the conviction occurred, [04:29] which in this instance is New York, [04:32] which only revokes a felon's voting rights while they are incarcerated. [04:35] So, if Trump receives a probationary sentence, [04:38] he would maintain his eligibility to vote. [04:40] The only way he wouldn't is if he were in prison at the time of the election. [04:45] So what would a conviction in the Hush money case mean for Trump's three federal cases? [04:50] Well, first, let me give some background. [04:52] Trump is facing 40 felony counts in Florida for allegedly [04:56] hoarding classified documents and obstructing the government's efforts to retrieve them, [05:00] as well as four counts in Washington related to [05:02] his alleged efforts to overturn the 2020 election and [05:05] 13 counts in Georgia in connection to [05:07] his alleged attempts to overturn the 2020 election result in that state. [05:11] While the conviction in the Hush money trial [05:13] does not directly impact Trump's other cases, [05:16] I could significantly influence his legal strategy and public perception. [05:20] The guilty verdict could embolden prosecutors. [05:23] It could affect jury perceptions and potentially impact whether [05:26] he's willing to negotiate a plea deal or settlement agreement in those cases, [05:30] or if he's willing to take the stand in those trials. [05:33] It might also undermine Trump's credibility in future trials, [05:36] and it's possible judges may take [05:38] the conviction into consideration when determining sentencing. [05:41] Ultimately, we don't know what impact a conviction will have. [05:44] But it is possible that it influences his legal defense in [05:47] his other cases and shapes the public's perception of his legal troubles. ```json [{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https://time.com/6985067/donald-trump-felon-travel-guns-voting/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://time.com/6985067/donald-trump-felon-travel-guns-voting/"},"headline":"How Trump's Life Will Change Now That He's a Convicted Felon","datePublished":"2024-06-03T18:07:27.000Z","dateModified":"2026-10-19T07:43:04.716Z","description":"From gun ownership to travel to voting, how Trump's life will be restricted by his felony conviction.","url":"https://time.com/6985067/donald-trump-felon-travel-guns-voting/","keywords":["Donald Trump","Explainer","News Desk"],"thumbnailUrl":"https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltcc294e4580f4a97a/698a57809d83e80598b9a2a6/GettyImages-2155447478.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=1200:675&height=675","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Nik Popli","jobTitle":"Staff Writer","url":"https://time.com/author/nik-popli/"}],"articleSection":"Politics","image":[{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltcc294e4580f4a97a/698a57809d83e80598b9a2a6/GettyImages-2155447478.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=1200:675&height=675","width":1200,"height":675,"headline":"President Trump Holds A Press Conference At Trump Tower Day After Guilty Verdict","caption":"President Trump Holds A Press Conference At Trump Tower Day After Guilty Verdict","creditText":"2024 Getty Images","representativeOfPage":true}],"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Time","url":"https://time.com/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://time.com/images/logo.png","width":528,"height":156},"foundingDate":"March 3, 1923","sameAs":["https://www.facebook.com/time","https://www.instagram.com/time/?hl=en","https://twitter.com/time","https://www.pinterest.com/timemagazine"]}},{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"item":{"@id":"https://time.com/section/politics/","name":"Politics"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"item":{"@id":"https://time.com/tag/donald-trump/","name":"Donald Trump"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"item":{"@id":"https://time.com/6985067/donald-trump-felon-travel-guns-voting/","name":"How Trump's Life Will Change Now That He's a Convicted Felon"}}]},{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"VideoObject","name":"What Happens Next Now That Trump Has Been Convicted? 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