Donald Trump has become the first president in United States history to be impeached twice.
As only two other presidents – Bill Clinton and Andrew Johnson – have ever been impeached, 50% of all successful impeachment proceedings have now been brought against him. Incredibly, Trump has also been impeached more times than he’s been elected.
Charges of “incitement of insurrection” passed through the House of Representatives after a mob of Trump supporters stormed the Capitol last week. In a speech shortly before the riot, Trump told a crowd of his followers to “fight like hell” against the election he repeatedly and baselessly claimed was stolen.
10 House Republicans sided with the Democrats to impeach Trump 232-197. As with Trump’s first impeachment, the charges against him will now go to trial in the Senate, where a two-thirds majority is needed for conviction.
This would require 17 Senate Republicans – an unprecedented number – to vote against their president. No US president has ever not been acquitted at this stage.
Moreover, the Senate trial will take place after Biden’s inauguration, meaning some Republicans consider it to be moot. But, if conviction is successful, it could bar Trump from ever running for office again.
Regardless of the legal implications of a second impeachment, the symbolic impact is immense.
Politicians and celebrities lined up to share their thoughts…
Today, in a bipartisan vote, the House voted to impeach and hold President Trump accountable. Now, the process cont… https://t.co/BReZ8t0gO0— Joe Biden (@Joe Biden) 1610594340
Today, I voted to impeach President Trump. To my Republican colleagues who did the same, thank you for your patri… https://t.co/FWw2WR9uob— Rep. Joe Neguse (@Rep. Joe Neguse) 1610595192
Boris Johnson said Donald Trump is a suitable candidate for the Nobel Peace Prize. US Congress voted to impeach hi… https://t.co/wrkaOnB3Me— David Lammy (@David Lammy) 1610613820
I didn’t even know you could be impeached twice. I thought it was like dying— chrissy teigen (@chrissy teigen) 1610573937
IMPEACHED AGAIN!— bettemidler (@bettemidler) 1610574997
This is the "gritty reboot" impeachment.— Patton Oswalt (@Patton Oswalt) 1610573604
What an exhausting, sickening, distracting waste of 4 years.— billy eichner (@billy eichner) 1610573723
I been told yaaa https://t.co/FtZYlJKEbe— Cardi B (@Cardi B) 1610576422
And so did the US public. Who couldn’t resist a few jokes…
the way he wanna tweet right now— FLEEKNIK (@FLEEKNIK) 1610574423
I do wonder what he would be tweeting rn...— michaela okland (@michaela okland) 1610573870
Nancy Pelosi wore the same dress for both impeachments. She literally has a Trump impeachment outfit https://t.co/ANSzBs35Fo— Travis Allen (@Travis Allen ) 1610589253
“Not to be confused with Second impeachment of Donald Trump.” https://t.co/P1OoaKjHtZ— Abdallah Fayyad (@Abdallah Fayyad) 1610576441
https://t.co/xWEQ8HAuAA— out of context parks and rec (@out of context parks and rec) 1610580134
https://t.co/SQWrEYN7DX— Lee Dawson (@Lee Dawson) 1610575894
Congrats to Trump on finally getting more votes than a Clinton— Full Frontal (@Full Frontal) 1610574992
I'd impeach him a third time if I could. https://t.co/dANjWc9rq5— Joe Reid (@Joe Reid) 1610573512
so is getting impeached twice orwellian or kafkaesque— jonny sun (@jonny sun) 1610580795
men will literally get impeached twice instead of going to therapy.— kim (@kim) 1610579961
If we impeach trump a third time we get a free soda at jersey mike’s— luke moran (@luke moran) 1610575076
Trump published a video in which he condemned the Capitol riots.
He is yet to respond directly to his second impeachment.