How Trump, Johnson, divisive populists with similarities, took diff paths

At first blush, they seem so alike two pugnacious, ideologically flexible politicians who latched onto the 2016 global explosion of populism to lead their respective countries before falling from power.

But Boris Johnson and Donald Trump appear headed down different paths this week as they navigate the fallout from their conduct now that they've left higher office a reflection of the varying political cultures and systems in the nations they once led.

On Thursday, a committee of the House of Commons released a scathing report about how Johnson lied to Parliament and intimidated those investigating lockdown-flouting parties in his administration during the pandemic.

The committee said Johnson's conduct was so flagrant that it warranted a 90-day suspension from Parliament, although that recommendation was largely symbolic because he resigned from the House of Commons last week.

He was ousted as prime minister almost a year ago, partly due to the partygate scandal.

Two days earlier