DONALD TRUMP has became the first former US president to be convicted of serious crimes after a New York jury found him guilty of all 34 charges over a scheme to illegally influence the 2016 election through a hush-money payment to a porn actor.

Mr Trump sat stone faced on Thursday while the verdict was read. Cheering in the street below could be heard on the courthouse’s 15th floor, where the decision was revealed after more than nine hours of deliberations.

The trial involved charges that Mr Trump falsified business records to cover up a hush-money payment to Stormy Daniels, who said that she had had sex with Mr Trump, a married man, in 2006.

After leaving the courtroom, he told reporters: “This was a rigged, disgraceful trial.

“The real verdict is going to be November 5 by the people. They know what happened and everyone knows what happened here.”

Judge Juan M Merchan scheduled sentencing for July 11, just days before the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, at which Mr Trump is expected to be formally adopted as the party’s candidate for the White House.

The former president could face imprisonment but is expected to appeal.