Donald Trump confirmed he will appeal against his historic conviction in his New York trial in remarks at Trump Tower
Trump falsely repeated claims his prosecution was politically orchestrated and that his trial was "rigged"
The ex-president was convicted on all 34 counts of falsifying business records in his trial on Thursday
His campaign says it raised $35m in online donations following his conviction
This is the first time a former or serving US president has been found guilty of a crime
Trump can still run for president. He could be sent to prison when he's sentenced on 11 July - but legal experts say a fine is more likely
Trump turns his attention to his former lawyer and key prosecution witness Michael Cohen.
"I never thought of him as a fixer," Trump says. "He was a lawyer, and he was a fairly good."
"Later on I didn't like what he did."
"I didn't like that when I became president he went around and made deals with companies. When I heard that, he was gone," Trump says.
The hush-money case should have been a "non-case", Trump says, blaming Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg for bringing it to court.
Trump again decries the case and the ruling, calling it a "very sad thing that's happening to our country".
But, Trump says, he's "honoured to be involved".
"Not that it's pleasant," he says. "But in a way I'm honoured, because somebody's got to... I might as well keep going and be involved."
Trump's now defending non-disclosure agreements, or NDAs.
He describes NDAs as honourable, accepted and something "everybody has".
But Trump blames the press for calling the NDA he had with Stormy Daniels hush-money: "It's not hush money, it's a non-disclosure agreement".
"Totally legal, totally common," he adds.
He was convicted not for paying the hush money or signing an NDA, but for how recorded the reimbursement to Michael Cohen for that payment in the Trump Organization's books.
Trump is now talking about the potential threat of going to prison at his age.
"Normally I'd say that's an old guy, but I don't feel 77," he says.
While it is possible he could be sentenced to a short prison term at a hearing on July 11, he could also be given a fine, probation or supervised release.
Image source, ReutersThe former president has returned to his well-trodden refrain, calling the New York case politically motivated and a "witch hunt".
He criticises the Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, and Justice Juan Merchan - both frequent targets of the former president.
We've heard much of this criticism from Trump before.
Trump says he's not the only New Yorker whose business records could stir up legal trouble.
The former president says if he went through the business records of "anyone in this city" he could find things that prosecutors might not like.
"This is bigger than Trump, bigger than me, bigger than my presidency," he says.
One of New York's most famous businesspeople, Trump also must pay more than $350 million in a separate civil case brought by the state.
Trump says he would have liked to testify during his trial, though he did not take the stand.
"Now I would have testified, I wanted to testify," he says, implying his lawyers encouraged him not to.
"As soon as you testify.... they'll get you on something you said slightly wrong and then they'll get you for perjury. But I didn't care, I wanted to."
"I would have loved to have testified, to this day i would have liked to have testified."
It is not unusual for defendants to not take the stand, legal experts have told the BBC.
Image source, ReutersTrump is jumping back and forth between his New York trial and more general complaints about New York and the US.
Repeating a common refrain that the trial was "rigged", Trump says his team was treated unfairly by the judge.
"We wanted a venue change, were denied... we wanted a judge change, we were denied," he says.
Calling the Manhattan District Attorney "corrupt", Trump then decries the "rampant" crime in New York, recalling a recent attack in a McDonald's there.
In his remarks Trump claimed some of the witnesses on his side were "literally crucified". The former president then goes on to reference a "certain witness" who went through "hell". While he does not specify who he's talking about, it's likely lawyer Robert Costello, who was heavily reprimanded by Justice Juan Merchan for groaning when objections were sustained.
Trump's defence team only called two witnesses - Costello and a paralegal.
Trump hits out at the "nasty" gag order imposed by Justice Juan Merchan, complaining of being "threatened with jail."
"I've had to pay thousands of doallars in penalities and fines," Trump says.
"I'm the leading person for president and I'm under a gag order by a man that can't put two sentences together," he says, appearing to reference Merchan.
The judge had blocked Trump from talking about a variety of people, including Merchan's family. But the gag order did not apply to talking about Merchan himself.
Image source, ReutersFormer President Trump has begun his remarks - arriving not down the iconic escalator, but instead out of some elevators.
He starts by referring to his felony conviction and saying if "they can do this to me, they can do this to anyone", and confirms he will appeal.
He quickly pivots to more of a campaign pitch, decrying the country's immigration system and the "sick" people trying to enter the US.
Trump turns to his political rival, Joe Biden who, he says, is "destroying the country".
Donald Trump is at the lectern inside Trump Tower in New York.
Stay tuned while we bring you all the live lines from his press conference.
You can also watch live by pressing play at the top of this page.
Image source, Getty ImagesThe moment in 2015 when Trump rode the escalator down to the lobby of Trump Tower in New York to announce his candidacy
We're probably about to see Donald Trump come down the famous escalator at Trump Tower.
It's been nine years since he glided down the escalator and announced his presidential ambitions in a speech that changed the trajectory of US political history.
At the time, he was the 12th Republican presidential candidate to announce their candidacy and many doubted the wide-spread appeal of then-candidate Trump.
But as we all know that support grew enough for him to be elected president.
Donald Trump is expected to hold a news conference at Trump Tower in New York shortly - you will be able to watch it live by clicking play at the top of this page.
Holly Honderich
Michael in the US asks: Can he be sentenced to jail and not get out until he wins his appeal?
Technically yes, Donald Trump can be sentenced to prison.
The 34 charges the Republican faced are all class E felonies in New York, the lowest tier in the state. Each charge carries a maximum sentence of four years.
Still, there are several reasons why Justice Juan Merchan may choose a lesser punishment like a fine, probation or supervision, including Trump’s age (77), the fact that he’s a first-time felon - and even perhaps the fact that he’s a former president.
But Trump is likely to appeal - a process that could take months or even longer - and a prison sentence would likely be delayed while this plays out.
In the meantime, Trump is likely to remain free on his own recognizance, or on bail.
Holly Honderich
Ian Simpson in Scotland asks: Are convicted felons allowed to vote in Florida?
It’s a little bit confusing but in Trump’s case yes, he will likely be able to vote this autumn.
Under Florida law, external - where Trump is a resident - a person with a felony conviction in the state will lose their right to vote, though that right may be restored after they have completed their sentence.
But a Florida resident with a felony conviction in another state, like Trump, is ineligible to vote only "if the conviction would make the person ineligible to vote in the state where the person was convicted".
Trump was convicted in New York, where felons are allowed, external to vote as long as they are not currently incarcerated.
This means that unless Trump is behind bars on 5 November, he should be eligible to cast his ballot.
Ana Faguy
US reporter
'I did my job': Manhattan District Attorney speaks after Donald Trump verdict
Alvin Bragg is the New York County district attorney who brought the case against Trump.
In 2021 he became the first black man elected to the job, and since his tenure's begun he's been party to a handful of high-profile cases including leading New York's lawsuit against disgraced film producer Harvey Weinstein.
Last year Bragg became the first prosecutor to bring criminal charges against a president.
Despite heavy public criticism, from Trump and his allies, Bragg has stood by the prosecutors' case.
At a press conference with fellow prosecutors, after the verdict was read, Bragg thanked his team for their work "following the facts and the law".
"I did my job", he added.
Read more about Bragg here.
Let's take a brief pause from some questions to take you back onto the street outside Trump Tower in Manhattan.
Barricades are going up and some Trump supporters are joining the dozens of media crews lining the sidewalks of Fifth Avenue.
With less than an hour to go until Trump speaks, the frenzy - at least outside - seems to be picking up.
Image source, Reuters
Anthony Zurcher
BBC North America correspondent
Mark Doyle asks: Could Donald Trump take his case to the Supreme Court, where there is a Conservative majority bench, to overturn the New York convictions?
Donald Trump has already hinted that he plans to appeal his felony conviction, although his lawyers have yet to spell out the grounds for such a move.
Because this conviction came in state court, the first few rounds would play out in the New York appellate system. Trump’s team could challenge a variety of decisions made by Justice Juan Merchan on what testimony to permit and evidence to allow during the trial, as well as Merchan’s decision not to recuse himself because of alleged bias.
After all this plays out in New York courts, Trump could then turn to the US Supreme Court, although he would have to cite grounds for its involvement.
Federal courts typically try to stay out of state court decisions unless they involve issues of federal or constitutional law. Trump’s teams could assert that the former president’s constitutional rights were infringed during his trial.
Of course, as members of the highest court in America, the Supreme Court justices can always find a reason to consider the case and there would be no one or no institution to second guess that decision. It only takes four of the nine to put a case on the court’s docket.
So don’t be surprised if this case ultimately ends up there months or even years from now. And remember, Trump’s sentence could also be on hold until then.
Madeline Halpert
Reporting from New York
An online submission from courtland_rogers_krick’s asks: What is the likely outcome of Donald Trump’s sentencing?
New York Justice Juan Merchan has an enormous decision on his hands. As of now, he will sentence Trump for his felony conviction on 11 July.
Legal experts say there are multiple options for sentencing. On the one hand, Trump has been convicted of the lowest-level felony and he is a first-time, non-violent offender in his late 70s.
This makes prison time unlikely.
On the other hand, Justice Merchan may feel pressure to show that no one - including a former president - is above the law, so Trump receiving a sentence of time behind bars is not impossible.
It would be a massive logistical challenge, however, as Trump would be entitled to Secret Service protection even in prison.