IMPEACHMENT

DONALD TRUMP ACQUIRED BY THE SENATE

ENJOY A WELL DESERVED VICTORY

The US Senate on Wednesday dismissed the two charges against Donald Trump, marking the general acquittal of the White House host.

The outcome of the dismissal trial of Donald Trump, who kept the Americans in suspense, has just fallen. The President of the United States was acquitted by the Senate on Wednesday, February 5, 2020, after a historic trial that shed light on America's divides without ever wobbling its electoral base.

Before him, only two of his predecessors, Andrew Johnson in 1868 and Bill Clinton in 1998, had undergone such a procedure. But his trial showed that the former New York businessman could count on a tight-knit Republican party, a significant asset nine months before an election in which he will run for a second four-year term.

However, this political victory was overshadowed by the defection of a prominent Republican politician: Mitt Romney, an unsuccessful candidate for the White House in 2012.

Donald Trump acquitted

In a solemn vote followed live on television by tens of millions of Americans, the Senate estimated, by 52 votes out of 100, that Donald John Trump, 45th president in history, had not surrendered guilty of abuse of power. By 53 votes out of 100, he also considered that he had not been guilty of obstructing the smooth running of Congress. The United States Constitution requires a two-thirds majority (67 seats out of 100) to remove a president. "Acquitted forever," claims the White House.

49% supportive of Trump

Since the scandal broke out, the White House host claims to be the victim of a witch hunt orchestrated by his opponents who would not have digested his surprise victory of 2016. The strategy seems to have, at least in part, paid off: according to the latest poll from the Gallup Institute, it records 49% of favorable opinions, a record since his coming to power. Less than 24 hours before the Senate vote, Donald Trump had praised Tuesday evening, before the Congress assembled in full, its "incredible" results in a speech with accents of campaign rallies. "Unlike so many others before me, I keep my promises," he launched, constantly cut by the standing ovations and the "USA, USA" of the Republicans. In this same House of Representatives which indicted him on December 18, he shuffled all the themes to come for the November 3 poll: the fight against illegal immigration or abortion, "the great economic success" the United States...

Torn speech

At no time was "impeachment" mentioned. But the shadow of the trial, which marked a final break between the "Trumpists" and the Democrats, hung over the hemicycle. Opposition politicians most often refrained from applauding, some boycotted the event, others left in the middle of his speech. Donald Trump ostensibly avoided shaking hands with the Democratic leader of the Nancy Pelosi room. Once the speech was finished, the latter tore her copy of the speech in a spectacular gesture.

Americans rather concerned about economic results

Beyond Washington, the trial divided both the Americans and their elected representatives. Its impact on the elections is therefore difficult to predict, but Donald Trump says he is convinced that voters will penalize "democrats-who-do-nothing".

Americans, in fact, although 52% convinced that the president has abused his power, were only 46% to vote for his dismissal, according to a poll NBC News / Wall Street Journal published at the formal opening of the Donald Trump impeachment trial. 49% think the opposite. "The results suggest that the impeachment has not changed a lasting feature of the Trump presidency: in a turbulent political environment , the views of Americans on him remain unchanged," said the Wall Street Journal. According to the daily, the poll points to a strengthening of the president's position in recent months thanks to better dynamism from his Republican supporters.

The voters thus kept their opinion on the guilt or the innocence of the president. They finally seemed more concerned about economic issues than the outcome of the Donald Trump trial

"Mr. Trump can do whatever he wants, the party will support him."

While it is difficult to predict what the consequences of this epilogue will be for the November election, Fox News recalls that Mr. Trump records the highest figures in his term. And, adds the Wall Street Journal, also "bewildering and exasperating as it may be for Democrats, impeachment may actually have increased Trump's chances of being re-elected in the fall."

Thus, the impeachment trial could end up backfiring on the Democrats. In 2000, Republicans were penalized in the midterm elections for the virulence of the impeachment attempt against Bill Clinton. The vote of some Democrats for the dismissal could therefore turn against them, in particular the thirty elected representatives representing in districts won by Trump in 2016.

The New York Times also predicts that to win, "Mr. Trump can do what he wants, the party will support him."

A few minutes after the announcement of his acquittal, the American president published on Twitter a parody video suggesting that he could remain president ad vitam aeternam.




Joanne Courbet for DayNewsWorld