Trump celebrates impeachment acquittal and blasts rivals

US President Donald Trump has taken a victory lap one day after his impeachment acquittal, in a tirade against his political enemies.

"I've done things wrong in my life, I will admit... but this is what the end result is," he said as he held up a newspaper headlined "Trump acquitted".

"We went through hell, unfairly. We did nothing wrong," he said at the White House. "It was evil, it was corrupt."

He earlier criticised impeachment foes who invoked their religious faith.

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"Now we have that gorgeous word. I never thought it would sound so good," Mr Trump said from the East Room, which was crammed with supporters and cabinet officials.

"It's called 'total acquittal'."

Mr Trump thanked his lawyers and Republican lawmakers

Mr Trump was impeached by the House of Representatives in December for abuse of power and obstruction of Congress, but was acquitted on Wednesday after a two-week trial in the Republican-controlled Senate, which did not include any witnesses.

Mr Trump also used a swear word to describe the justice department inquiry into whether his 2016 election campaign had colluded with the Kremlin.

"It was all bullshit," he said. "This should never happen to another president ever."

The heroic political outlaw

Analysis by Gary O'Donoghue, Washington @BBCBlindGazza

So what was that?

According to the president, it was neither speech nor news conference; it was "nothing", it was a "celebration".

It was certainly about 62 minutes long and veered wildly between self-congratulation, via self-justification, to self-pity with a smattering of bilious expletives and insults to describe his political opponents en route.

It was both a lap of honour and an emotional rollercoaster, all played out in front of his Republican flock, the nation and the world.

Frankly, it was hard to keep up.

One moment the president was railing against liars, leakers and "dirty cops"; the next we were into an anecdote about a wrestling team from Penn State University.

The acquitted, no doubt, enjoy a moment of catharsis - the moment of euphoria when the pall of guilt is lifted and renewal can begin. But don't expect this president to put this one behind him - it's far too valuable an electoral stick with which to beat his rivals right up to polling day.

President Trump's appeal in 2016 was as the outsider, the man to "drain the swamp" and give power back to the people.

The impeachment process will allow Trump 45 to once again assume the mantle of the heroic political outlaw.

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The president's tone on Thursday suggested he is confident of Republican party loyalty ahead of November's White House election.

Mr Trump's post-acquittal celebration contrasted with President Bill Clinton's address in 1999, when the impeached Democratic president offered a sombre apology to the American people.

"I want to say again to the American people how profoundly sorry I am for what I said and did to trigger these events and the great burden they have imposed on the Congress and on the American people," Mr Clinton said.

As he concluded his remarks, Mr Trump also offered a rare apology - to his family, for having to "go through a phony, rotten deal".

Earlier in the day, Mr Trump spoke about his "terrible ordeal" of impeachment during the National Prayer Breakfast, an annual cross-party event in Washington DC to celebrate religious freedom.

Mr Trump continued: "I don't like people that use their faith as justification for doing what they know is wrong.

"Nor do I like people that say 'I pray for you' when they know that's not so."

On Wednesday, Senator Mitt Romney cited his deep Mormon faith as he became the only Republican to vote to remove Mr Trump from office.

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In December, Democratic House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who launched the impeachment inquiry, cited her own Catholic faith as she said she prays for Mr Trump.

Mr Trump cited the matter again later in the East Room, saying: "I doubt she [Pelosi] prays at all."

Reacting to Mr Trump's prayer speech, Mrs Pelosi, who sat near Mr Trump as he spoke, told reporters: "He's impeached forever, no matter what he says or whatever headlines he wants to carry around.

"You're impeached forever. You're never getting rid of that scar."