‘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.

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”.

“A comeback to end Trump all comebacks” ran the Daily Mail, noting that in the end “it wasn’t even close”.

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.”

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.”

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”.

“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.

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.

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: “Brave New Don”.