After initial pleadings, the Senate conducted a first ballot late Tuesday.

The question was whether a federal court against a former president violates the US Constitution.

No, all Democrats and six Republicans voted.

Thus, the Supreme Court can continue.

Analysts wanted to see how many Republicans chose to leave the party line in the first ballot to see if there is support for overthrowing Trump.

That does not seem to be the case.

The Senate has 100 members.

Vice President Kamala Harris, Democrat, has the casting vote, as the two parties have the same number of members in the House.

But a two-thirds majority is required for a conviction in a Supreme Court.

Movie screening

The Supreme Court began, after formalities, with a film screening.

The sometimes brutal images from the storming of the Capitol Congress building on January 6 set the tone for the trial.

Trump is being prosecuted in the Senate for setting fire to the crowd that then broke into Congress.

Trump is formally accused of inciting rebellion.

First out was the prosecution side.

Maryland Democrat Jamie Raskin, who leads the prosecution from the House of Representatives, noted that the footage from the storm spoke for itself.

- You will not hear long explanations from me, as this case is based on pure facts, Raskin said.

He then referred to the risk that a president is trying to exceed the people's vote in an election, and that the former president must therefore be tried in a Supreme Court.

Lawyers questioned

Trump's lawyers questioned during the debate whether the Senate really has a mandate to implement the Supreme Court when Trump left his post as president on January 20.

Lawyer David Schoen estimated an emotional tone:

- This trial will tear the country apart, he said, adding that the trial will make the United States "much more divided" and that "our reputation around the world will be severely damaged".

Democrats from the House of Representatives, who act as prosecutors in the Supreme Court, suggest that they will present new evidence during the process.