Former President Donald Trump was convicted by a Manhattan jury in a historic verdict on Thursday, finding him guilty of all 34 counts in the falsification of business records linked to the Stormy Daniels hush money scandal. The verdict marks Trump as the first U.S. president in history to be convicted of a felony.

As the jury read their decision, Trump, who maintained a straight face and stared ahead as each verdict was announced, turned his attention briefly towards the jury box. Each juror confirmed their decision under the somber eyes of Judge Juan Merchan. Despite the gravity of the moment, Trump was quick to voice his defiance and frame the legal outcome as the beginning rather than the end of the saga.

“It was a rigged trial, it was a disgrace,” Trump declared outside the courtroom. “The real verdict is going to be November 5th by the people. They know what happened here. I am a very innocent man.”

Trump vehemently denounced the proceedings as “a rigged, disgraceful trial” influenced by political motivations. He then accused the judge of being “corrupt” and lamented the trial's location in a district where he claimed to have minimal support. “We were at 5 percent or 6 percent in this district, in this area,” Trump stated.

WATCH:

(BREAKING: Famed Economist Predicts '1987 Style' Stock Market Crash)

His fiery speech continued, with Trump positioning himself as a martyr fighting for national values. “I'm fighting for our Constitution. Our whole country is being rigged right now. This was done by the Biden administration in order to wound or hurt an opponent, a political opponent.”

“We'll fight till the end, and we'll win, because our country has gone to hell. We don't have the same country anymore. We have a divided mess. We're nation in decline,” Trump proclaimed, alluding to issues such as immigration and crime as signs of national decay.

The courtroom drama unfolded quickly, with less than 10 hours of deliberation by the jury over two days. The case, led by District Attorney Alvin Bragg, centered around a $130,000 payment meant to prevent adult film actress Stormy Daniels from publicizing a supposed affair with Trump ahead of the 2016 presidential election. Trump's former lawyer, Michael Cohen, testified that he arranged the payment, claiming Trump had directed him to “handle it.”

Despite the legal team's efforts to dispute Cohen's credibility and deny any wrongdoing, the jury's swift decision painted a different picture. Before the verdict, Trump’s demeanor visibly shifted; what began as a composed appearance soon turned grave as the reality of the situation set in. Trump's conviction does not just have personal ramifications; it casts a long shadow over his political future. As the presumptive Republican nominee, Trump now faces not only a potential prison sentence but also the challenge of navigating his campaign amidst ongoing legal battles.

With the sentencing set for July 11, Trump’s focus remains on the political battle leading up to the midterm elections. As November 5th approaches, Trump and Biden have set the stage for a deeply polarized electoral battle.

Better First Lady – MELANIA TRUMP or JILL BIDEN? Vote Now…