One word sums it up for many front pages, but pro-Trump papers insist the Senate trial will be a ‘funeral’ for the Democrats

This article is more than 9 months old

This article is more than 9 months old

There was not much debate on the top story in the US on Thursday morning, with the two votes to impeach Donald Trump getting near universal coverage.

“Trump impeached” is the headline in one of the president’s least favourite papers, the Washington Post. It devotes its entire front page to coverage, under a picture of speaker Nancy Pelosi. One headline reads: “An impeachment that mirrors his presidency: Disruption and division”. Alongside a picture of the president at the rally he hosted at the same time as the House vote, the Post runs the headline: “Unclear path to a virtually certain Senate acquittal”.

On Twitter the paper also posted its front pages for Clinton’s impeachment (1998) and that of Andrew Johnson (1868).

The Washington Post (@washingtonpost) President Clinton was impeached on Dec. 19, 1998. https://t.co/BeaQAMwZCH



President Trump was impeached on Dec. 18, 2019. https://t.co/hJsiqugGnJ



Here are the three front pages from the three U.S. presidents to be impeached: Johnson, Clinton and Trump. pic.twitter.com/XVS7REy0vJ

The New York Times carries exactly the same headline (“Trump impeached”), saying after “fierce arguments, House approves a charge that he abused power”.

The paper’s editorial says Republicans are “following him (Trump) down” and that “ignoring facts and trashing the impeachment process is no way to protect democracy”. It says there is plenty of blame to go around, “but the nihilism of this moment – the trashing of constitutional safeguards, the scorn for facts, the embrace of corruption, the indifference to historical precedent and to foreign interference in American politics — is due principally to cowardice and opportunism on the part of Republican leaders who have chosen to reject their party’s past standards and positions and instead follow Donald Trump, all the way down.”

Tom Jolly (@TomJolly) Later edition https://t.co/czys4K3Zoy pic.twitter.com/BFJ7BMYAOo

USA Today splashes with one word: “Impeached”, and says the Clinton impeachment is a “study in contrasts”. The paper’s editorial headline is: “Donald Trump’s impeachment defenders set a dangerous precedent”.

“The Republicans have engaged in a whole pattern of behavior that will undermine Congress’ ability to serve as a check on presidential overreach,” it writes, adding that the Senate jurors like Lindsay Graham, who has said he will not pretend to be fair in the impeachment trial “are colluding with the defense lawyers to help ensure a favorable outcome at trial”.

USA TODAY (@USATODAY) Thursday's #frontpage: In a historic vote, the House voted to impeach President Trump. He is now the third president in history to be impeached. pic.twitter.com/Kf7JvzrW9Y

Politico magazine’s front cover also has a one-word headline: “Impeached”, over a picture of Trump. It says the house has delivered a “historic rebuke” and describes Trump’s conduct as “A bruised ego, a Twitter eruption and a winding rally”.

The paper reports that although the White House was keen to suggest this was just a normal day for the president, and that Trump was “busy working and only ‘between meetings’ catching snippets of the action on the House floor, his Twitter feed belied that claim and showed a president obsessed with the historic nature of this day.”

Politico said that through four dozen tweets and retweets, “Trump did not shy away from weighing in on his favorite medium. “SUCH ATROCIOUS LIES BY THE RADICAL LEFT, DO NOTHING DEMOCRATS. THIS IS AN ASSAULT ON AMERICA, AND AN ASSAULT ON THE REPUBLICAN PARTY!!!!,” he tweeted around lunchtime Wednesday.”

Bill Kuchman (@billkuchman) 📰 Here’s tomorrow’s impeachment @politico front page. pic.twitter.com/pXvX2lH7aq

The New York Post leads the pro-Trump camp, attacking House Speaker, Nancy Pelosi with the headline: “It’s your funeral”, adding that “Swamp mistress Pelosi dresses in black for historic vote”.

Alison Rourke (@AlisonRourke) The New York Post attacks Nancy Pelosi as Trump is impeached https://t.co/uvOVZKscf8 via @nypost

The Wall Street Journal only devotes the top half of its front page to Trump, echoing others with the headline “President Impeached”. Its editorial’s headline is: “This impeachment folly” and says the Democrats have misstepped.

“They have failed to persuade the country; they have set a new, low standard for impeaching a President; Mr Trump will be acquitted in the Senate; and Democrats may have helped Mr Trump win re-election. Congratulations to The Resistance.”

“The problem isn’t GOP consciences, it’s the weak and dishonest Democratic case for impeachment,” the editorial says.