Donald Trump impeachment trial: How the world reacted to Trump's acquittal

Former US President Donald Trump was acquitted of inciting violence at the Capitol.
Former US President Donald Trump was acquitted of inciting violence at the Capitol. Photo credit: Getty Images

A number of politicians and celebrities have expressed strong feelings of disappointment following the acquittal of former US President Donald Trump. 

On Saturday afternoon (local time), Trump was acquitted by the US Senate of inciting the violent siege of the US Capitol on January 6, in what was the most bipartisan presidential impeachment in the nation's history. 

In the vote, seven of the 50 Senate Republicans joined the chamber's unified Democrats to convict Trump, but it was not enough to find him guilty.

Here's how the world reacted.

Republican Senate minority leader Mitch McConnell gave a lengthy speech following the acquittal, saying Trump caused "a growing crescendo of false statements, conspiracy theories and reckless hyperbole".

While effectively blaming Trump for the violence at the Capitol, McConnell made the excuse that the Senate shutdown was the reason for the acquittal - adding that because Trump was no longer President, he technically could not be impeached. 

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi responded to McConnell's speech in a press conference: "It is so pathetic that Senator McConnell kept the Senate shut down so that the Senate could not receive the Article of Impeachment and has used that as his excuse for not voting to convict Donald Trump."

In another scathing remark, Pelosi branded Republicans as "cowardly" and speculated they didn't vote to acquit Trump because "maybe they can't get another job".

Democratic Senator Bernie Sanders took to Twitter to express his concern over the acquittal: "It is truly sad and dangerous that only seven Republicans voted to convict a president who is promoting a Big Lie, conspiracy theories and violence, and is aggressively trying to destroy American democracy."

One Republican Governor, Phil Scott, thanking the seven Republican Senators who did vote to impeach the former President. 

"Thank you, @SenatorRomney, @SenatorCollins, @SenBillCassidy, @SenatorBurr, @SenToomey, @SenSasse and Sen. @LisaMurkowsk for having the courage to do what was right," Scott said on Twitter. 

Celebrities also chimed in via Twitter, with talk show host Jimmy Kimmel saying he was "feeling dumb" for hoping Republican Senators would "do the right thing".

A number of high-profile public figures have contributed to an outpouring of disappointment on social media, with the niece of Vice President Kamala Harris tweeting: "White supremacy wins again."

Comedian Wanda Sykes branded McConnell a "snake", calling out his blaming of Trump for not reflecting his vote to acquit him. 

"Don't ever play Among Us with that sneaky muf****," she joked referring to a multiplayer computer game. 

"Is McConnell now trying to convince the historians he has no soul?" joked comedian Jim Gaffigan.

Schitt's Creek actor Dan Levy put it simply: "the corruption." 

While actress and activist Alyssa Milano hopes the courts will be able to convict Trump.

"It is a sad day in America when only seven Republicans have the patriotism and integrity to convict a tyrant," she wrote to Twitter.

"Since the Senate won’t do its job and convict the traitor Donald Trump, the courts will have to."

Trump may still face conviction in front of the court as an average US citizen.