Can Donald Trump still become president if he’s convicted of a crime?

The rising number of legal cases against Donald Trump has raised questions about his latest run to be president – and the most obvious one is: could he return to the White House if convicted? 

On Tuesday (1 August), the former US president was indicted on four counts related to efforts to overturn the 2020 election result. He is charged with conspiracy to defraud the US, conspiracy to obstruct a congressional proceeding (the certification of the Electoral College vote), obstruction of and attempt to obstruct a congressional proceeding, and conspiracy to deprive people of a civil right (the right to have their votes counted).

The four charges carry sentences ranging from five to 20 years in prison. Trump has pleaded not guilty to all of them.

It’s the latest in a series of indictments against Trump, who is facing dozens of charges across three cases. The Republican has denied all wrongdoing in each of the investigations. He has also vowed to keep his campaign going despite the legal issues. 

But his situation has raised questions over whether the legal proceedings will hinder that campaign, hurt him in the polls, or if he can even get into the Oval Office again if convicted on any of the felony counts.

**Can Donald Trump run for president if convicted? **

While Trump is the first US president to face criminal charges, his legal situation doesn’t actually prevent him from trying to get a second term in the White House. 

The US Constitution has few eligibility requirements for presidents. A presidential candidate must be at least 35 years old, a “natural-born” citizen and have been resident in the US for at least 14 years. 

Some states prohibit felons from running for state or local positions, but these laws don’t apply to federal offices. 

So, the indictments don’t disqualify Trump from running for president in 2024 or from serving if elected. Nor would any convictions.