Ultra-wealthy Republican donors are rallying behind former US President Donald Trump following his historic trial and criminal conviction.

Trump, the Republican candidate for this November’s White House election, was found guilty of falsifying business records to conceal hush money paid to former adult-film star Stormy Daniels.

While he has lagged behind Joe Biden and the Democrats’ fundraising efforts, the conviction injected new life into his electoral bid - with his campaign announcing that it raised nearly $53m (£41.6m) in just 24 hours after the verdict.