Trumped up?

Unashamed and unrepentant, the 76-year-old former president walked out of court - $5m (£4m) poorer - and straight into the television studio.

Less than a week ago, a jury in New York found Donald TrumpAn American television personality who became US president from 2016 to 2020, and will become president again in January 2025. guilty of battery and defamation. Many argue that this alone should rule him out of high office. But others caution that Trump has a number of factors in his favour - and many believe he may win the presidential elections in 2024.

Trump is no stranger to the media. His ability to dominate the news cycle and control the media narrative is a major asset for any political campaigner. Only a day after the jury's verdict, Trump walked onto the stage of a CNN town hall event to a standing ovation and rapturous applause. It was a reminder of the continued power of Donald Trump; despite being impeachedIn the USA, formally accusing a public official of misconduct whilst in office. Three presidents - Andrew Johnson, Bill Clinton, and Donald Trump - have been impeached by the House of Representatives. In all three cases, the Senate voted not to remove them. twice and losing the 2020 election, he remains a popular figure among Republican voters.

During the show, Trump made a number of controversial statements. He endorsed defaultingFailing to complete an obligation, for example paying back a loan. on US national debt; called the moderator "nasty"; claimed that the 2020 election was "stolen" from him; called the 6 JanuaryThen-US president Donald Trump was accused of inciting a mob of his supporters to storm the US Capitol on 6 January 2021 in a bid to overturn the 2020 election results. storming of the CapitolThe building in Washington DC where the US Congress meets. It was named after the Capitoline Hill in Rome. building by his supporters a peaceful protest and said that insurrectionist Ashli BabbittA Donald Trump supporter who was shot dead on 6 January 2021 during an attack on the US Capitol building. was a martyr.

He also repeatedly insulted the writer E Jean Carroll, who had just been awarded $5m (£4m) in damages after a jury found that Trump had defamedDefamation is an untrue statement that harms someone's reputation. and sexually assaulted her, leading her to suggest that she may be forced to start another lawsuit against him.

Some have criticised the decision to allow Trump to have the airtime, raising concerns that it allowed him to spread falsehoods without challenge. This, they warn, could have a serious impact on democracy in the USA. But others argue that it is important to hear different voices in the media - even if we disagree with them. Meanwhile, some think that the town hall was simply a ratings opportunity for CNN, an American television network which is struggling with falling viewing figures.

So, could he win again? Despite his legal troubles and being twice impeached whilst in office, the former president still has a strong base of support among Republican voters. A recent poll found that 60% of Republicans would support Trump if he ran for president again in 2024.

Another factor in his favour is his ability to raise money. Trump is a very effective fundraiser. He has raised over $100m (£80m) since leaving office. Added to this is his name recognition - the businessman and former reality TV star is one of the most well-known people in the world.

But this does not mean the route to office will be plain sailing for Trump. At 76, he is four years younger than President Joe BidenThe president of the USA, elected in 2020. but considerably older than his 44-year-old Republican PartyAlso known as the Grand Old Party or GOP, it is one of the USA's two major political parties. Its first president was Abraham Lincoln. It sits on the right of the political spectrum. rival Ron DeSantisA Republican Party politician in Florida, USA known for his right-wing views.. The other challenge for the erstwhileFormer. president is the ongoing investigations into his business dealings. Should he be found guilty, the charges could even result in jail time. And for now, most major opinion polls show that, on average, Joe Biden leads Trump by 2%.

Yes: Trump stands a very good chance of winning. He is still very popular with the Republican base and he has a strong fundraising operation.

No: Trump is a very polarisingTo cause people to divide into two opposing groups. figure due to his history of making controversial statements. This may lead voters to believe he is a liability. He is also facing a number of legal challenges which may mean he is unable to run for president.

Or... It is too early to say whether Trump will win in 2024. A number of factors, from the state of the economy to who else is running, are not yet known. However, he is a formidable candidate who should not be underestimated.