News organizations around the world on Friday hit the sensational news that Donald Trump will be impeached over silent payments to porn star Stormy Daniels.
The headline writers have taken full advantage of the sinister combination of a bombastic ex-boss and the unprecedented criminal charges linked to his former porn star “lover” and an impending $130,000 check.
They have questioned the strength of American democracy, the threat of violent unrest from Trump supporters, and even the prospect of boosting his 2024 presidential candidacy.
Respected German magazine Der Spiegel led the coverage in its international edition with a commentary piece titled “He Had It Coming”. In France, Le Monde drew attention to the unprecedented nature of the charges: “Trump becomes the first former US president to be charged.”
Newspapers in the UK scrambled to deliver the news to their late editions after the indictment was announced at around 10:30pm local time. The Times of London updated its second edition with the front-page headline: “Trump will be arrested in historic move to indict former president.”
El Diario posted a photo of Donald Trump in front of a row of American flags. In Poland, the headline of the famous Super Express newspaper (right) was roughly translated as “Ghost Arrest, Bolster Trump”
In Britain, a Guardian writer asked: “What does Donald Trump’s indictment say about American democracy?”
Respected German newspaper Der Spiegel included a commentary in its international edition with the headline ‘It was coming’
The BBC, one of the most widely read news websites in the world, said in a commentary that Trump’s indictment “sends shock waves through the political landscape.”
The Daily Telegraph headlined its story: “Trump accused of paying porn star.”
Europe’s most popular newspapers featured the former president’s pictures on their front pages and asked questions about the stability of democracy in America – and the possibility of unrest after the indictment.
The Italian newspaper La Repubblica spoke of the “risk of street violence”. The front page of Spain’s El Correo newspaper was dominated by a large photo of the president, headlined simply: ‘Trump, embutado’ (Trump accused).
The news also dominated the front page of El Pais, one of the most widely read Spanish newspapers, with the headline: “Donald Trump, preliminary president of EE UU imputado” (Donald Trump, first indicted US president).
In Poland, the famous Super Express published an earlier photo of Trump raising his arms in celebration with the headline: Widmo aresztowania, wzmocnito Trumpa (Ghost of arrest, boost Trump).
The Italian newspaper La Repubblica published a picture of Trump on its front page. An article published by the newspaper referred to the “risk of street violence” by Trump supporters due to the charges against him
The front page of Spain’s El Correo newspaper was dominated by a large photo of the president, headlined simply: ‘Trump, embutado’ (Trump accused)
The news also dominated the front page of El Pais, one of the most widely read Spanish newspapers, with the headline: “Donald Trump, preliminary president of EE UU imputado” (Donald Trump, first indicted US president).
Trump, 76, will stand trial in Manhattan at 2:15 p.m. Tuesday on a range of commercial fraud charges related to payments made to porn star Stormy Daniels in 2016.
The news broke around 5.30pm ET. Even Trump and his closest advisers were shocked by the indictment, after many guessed that charges were pending after a Manhattan grand jury announced a month-long hiatus.
Judge Juan Merchant was seen arriving at Manhattan Criminal Court in casual clothes last night amidst two security officers, leading many to believe he has been chosen for the case.
Merchan previously presided over the Trump Organization fraud trial, in which the family business was fined $1.2 million on a range of charges.
On Friday morning, Trump took to Truth Social to complain that Merchan “hates” him and that he was “handpicked” by Bragg and his cronies.
The Times of London has updated its front page to include news in its second edition. Several British newspapers scrambled to refresh their front pages after the news broke at around 10:30pm local time.
Another story on the Times tells the raunchy tale of the ‘porn star and the boss’
The Daily Telegraph, in the UK, headlined its article ‘Trump accused of shoving a porn star’.
The international response came as newsstands across America on Friday dominated the front pages of the unprecedented indictment of a former US president.
Meanwhile, anti-Trump protesters gathered in force outside Trump Tower in Manhattan to celebrate the indictment. They held protest signs reading “Lock him up,” a play on his supporters’ old chant about Hillary Clinton.
The indictment against him is the first time a US president has been criminally charged. Trump and his lawyers say it is a political witch hunt designed to hurt his chances in the 2024 election.
President Biden declined to comment when contacted by reporters outside the White House.
Trump and his wife, Melania, were arrested just hours after a grand jury recommended that he be indicted in connection with the $130,000 hush money payment to former porn star Stormy Daniels.
The former president and front-runner to be the GOP nominee in 2024 said he was “totally innocent.”
