‘What have they done…Again?’: What the UK papers say after Trump’s momentous political comeback
Donald Trump’s sweeping victory in the US presidential election saw the former president securing an unexpected majority in the popular vote, control of the Senate, and at least 295 electoral college votes – defeating vice-president Kamala Harris in a contest that dominated UK front pages on Thursday.
The Guardian led with two words: “American Dread”, a play on the American dream, alongside a close up portrait of the president-elect.
Americans awoke to a “transformed country and a rattled world” as the realisation of Trump’s stunning return to power started to sink in, wrote the Guardian’s Ed Pilkington, summing up the mood.
Thursday’s GUARDIAN: “American dread” #TomorrowsPapersToday pic.twitter.com/Xt0MSsFncU
— Allie Hodgkins-Brown (@AllieHBNews) November 6, 2024
The Mirror highlighted a question lingering on many minds around the world about what Trump 2.0 might bring, with the headline: “What have they done…Again?
Trump’s victory, it said, had ushered in fears the Republican leader would be even “more divisive and brutal than in his first spell in the White House”.
Thursday's front page: Trump returns to power#TomorrowsPapersToday https://t.co/iRAWpGU48r pic.twitter.com/HRBDJXPLL3
— The Mirror (@DailyMirror) November 6, 2024
“A comeback to Trump all comebacks” ran the Daily Mail, noting that in the end “it wasn’t even close”.
Introducing #TomorrowsPapersToday from: #DailyMail
A comeback to Trump all comebacks
Discover more newspapers by visiting our website @ https://t.co/BZkqOxi6ay #buyanewspaper #buyapaper #pressfreedom #journalist pic.twitter.com/L42HUDPBBp— #TomorrowsPapersToday @ The TSC News Channel (@channel_tsc) November 6, 2024
Trump’s electoral victory is unprecedented in many ways. For one, he is the first convicted felon to win the US presidency, a point highlighted by the front page of the Express, and one that did not stop Americans choosing him to lead once more.
“He’s been shot, convicted of a crime and branded a fascist… but he’s still the people’s choice.”
Thursday’s Daily EXPRESS: “He’s been shot, convicted of a crime and branded a fascist…but he’s still the people’s choice” #TomorrowsPapersToday pic.twitter.com/Y7I31RDLs2
— Allie Hodgkins-Brown (@AllieHBNews) November 6, 2024
The Times opted for a different tone, choosing the headline: “Trump promises Golden Age after sweeping Harris aside.”
Trump was returning to the White House more “powerful than ever” the Times said.
The paper also included on its front page the headline of an opinion piece, titled: “Face it, liberals, this is what millions wanted.”
Introducing #TomorrowsPapersToday from: #TheTimes
Trump promises goldern age
Discover more newspapers by visiting our website @ https://t.co/BZkqOxi6ay #buyanewspaper #buyapaper #pressfreedom #journalist pic.twitter.com/PgmSol6rob— #TomorrowsPapersToday @ The TSC News Channel (@channel_tsc) November 6, 2024
The Sun riffed off one of Trump’s signature lines from his reality TV show The Apprentice, running with the snappy headline: “You’re Rehired”.
“Trump’s back for Season 2”, the paper wrote, despite being “shot, sued, tried, insulted and written off”.
Tomorrow's front page: Shot, sued, tried, insulted, and written off, but ordinary Americans say, 'You're rehired' pic.twitter.com/SXuGTzN3oP
— The Sun (@TheSun) November 6, 2024
“Trump is back”, echoed the Financial Times on its front page, adding that American democracy and alliances were “poised for turmoil”, with stocks opening at new highs despite fresh fears over tariffs.
Just published: front page of the Financial Times, international edition, Thursday 7 November https://t.co/o5plpHvUWq pic.twitter.com/9O2zz0X4RF
— Financial Times (@FT) November 6, 2024
Featuring an arresting photo of a confident-looking Trump pointing his finger at the viewer, an image that mirrors the iconic Uncle Sam cartoon, the Telegraph said Trump had won with a powerful mandate, as he took control of the Senate, popular vote and “every swing state”.
“Trump’s clean sweep”, its headline read.
📰 The front page of tomorrow's Daily Telegraph:
'Trump's clean sweep'#TomorrowsPapersToday
Sign up for the Front Page newsletter ⬇️https://t.co/fRkXGjgS4s pic.twitter.com/iyvjFnOg9L— The Telegraph (@Telegraph) November 6, 2024
In Scotland, the Daily Record, featured a smirking Donald Trump alongside the line “The star-spangled spanner”.
The paper summed up his forthcoming second term in a witty pun, dubbing it: “A Grave New Don”.
Our front page tomorrow leads on Donald Trump winning the US presidential election #ScotPapers #TomorrowsPapersToday pic.twitter.com/CW1s9FNrt6
— The Daily Record (@Daily_Record) November 6, 2024
• This article was amended on 7 November 2024. An earlier version said that the Daily Record summed up Donald Trump’s second term with the words “Brave New Don”, when it instead said: “A Grave New Don”.