President-elect Donald Trump can be sentenced Friday in his New York hush money case, the Supreme Court said in a 5-4 ruling.

Trump’s sentence of an unconditional discharge confirms he will become the first person convicted of a felony to assume the presidency.

Before Friday’s hearing, Merchan had indicated he planned the no-penalty sentence, called an unconditional discharge, which meant no jail time, no probation and no fines would be imposed.

A glum Donald Trump appeared virtually Friday at his sentencing for covering up hush money paid to a porn star, forcing him to revisit his felony conviction just days before he returns to the White House.

The judge overseeing the hush money case against President-elect Trump sentenced him to "unconditional discharge," meaning he will remain a convicted felon but will face no further penalty or jail time.

Appearing via video call from Florida and flanked by his attorney and two prominent American flags, Trump declared he was "totally innocent". It was the first time in this year-and-half long legal saga that Trump had uttered more than a "not guilty" or given a brief affirmative answer.

For the first time in the history of our nation, a president is a convicted felon.