WASHINGTON — Donald Trump stated on Sunday (June 2) that he would be willing to accept either home confinement or imprisonment following his unprecedented conviction on criminal charges by a New York jury last week. However, he expressed doubts about the public's receptiveness to such an outcome.

Scheduled for sentencing on July 11, just four days before Republicans convene to formally select their presidential nominee to challenge Democratic President Joe Biden in the November election, Trump faces a rare prospect of imprisonment for felony falsification of business records, the charge brought against him at his trial in New York. The maximum penalty for such an offense is four years behind bars.

"I'm uncertain if the public would tolerate it," remarked the former president to Fox News regarding the potential prison sentence. "I believe it would be challenging for the public to accept. You know, there's a limit to what people can endure." Trump has pledged to appeal his conviction by the New York jury, which found him guilty of 34 felony counts related to falsifying documents to conceal a payment intended to silence a porn star before the 2016 election.

To succeed on appeal, Trump, aged 77, must demonstrate significant errors made by Justice Juan Merchan during the trial. His legal team anticipates taking the case to the Supreme Court. Reiterating allegations of bias by both the judge and the district attorney prosecuting the case, Trump insisted, "The United States Supreme Court MUST DECIDE!"

Trump intends to pursue an appeal following his sentencing on July 11. Should appeals in New York state courts prove fruitless, he could escalate to the Supreme Court. Trump's attorneys would need to convince at least four of the court's nine justices to consider his case. To prevail, Trump must show that the state prosecution violated his federal constitutional rights and that his legal team adhered to proper procedures during earlier stages of the legal proceedings.

Concerns have been raised about potential responses from Trump's supporters to his conviction, with some displaying US flags upside down as a sign of distress or protest. While Democratic lawmakers worry about the possibility of violent reactions, Republican figures emphasize the importance of adhering to the rule of law.

Trump's conviction is unlikely to be resolved before the November presidential election, where he aims to reclaim the White House from Biden. Opinion polls indicate a tight race between the two candidates, suggesting that Trump's conviction could impact his standing among certain Republican voters and independents.

Despite facing three other criminal cases, including allegations of attempting to overturn the 2020 election results, Trump maintains his innocence and portrays the charges as a Democratic plot to thwart his political ambitions. Biden has defended the justice system, condemning any claims of the verdict being "rigged," while the US Justice Department denies any political interference.