Key Takeaways
- Donald Trump has warned of a potential third impeachment if Republicans lose control of the House in the midterms.
- An impeachment is a formal charge that requires a House majority vote to pass, but does not always result in the removal of the official from office.
- Trump has been impeached twice before, in 2019 and 2021, but was acquitted by the Senate both times.
- Some Democrats have introduced impeachment resolutions in 2025, but they have not gained momentum due to Republican control of the House and Senate.
- Three presidents have been impeached in U.S. history, but all were acquitted after Senate trials.
Introduction to Impeachment
Impeachment is a formal charge that can be brought against a federal officeholder, including the President of the United States. It is akin to an indictment and requires a simple majority vote in the House of Representatives to pass. However, impeachment does not necessarily mean that the official will be removed from office. The Senate must hold an impeachment trial, presided over by the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, and vote by a two-thirds majority to convict. If the Senate votes to convict, the accused can be removed from office and potentially barred from holding office again in the future.
Trump’s Warning of a Third Impeachment
President Donald Trump, who has been impeached twice before, has warned that he could face a third impeachment if Republicans lose control of the House in the midterms. Trump made this statement during a meeting with House Republicans at the Trump-Kennedy Center on January 6. He emphasized the importance of winning the midterms, stating that if Republicans do not succeed, Democrats will find a reason to impeach him. This warning comes after a whirlwind first year back in office, during which Trump has faced numerous legal challenges and some Democrats have introduced impeachment resolutions.
Previous Impeachments of Trump
Trump has been impeached twice before, in 2019 and 2021. The first impeachment occurred in December 2019, when the House voted to impeach Trump on two articles: abuse of power and obstruction of Congress. The Senate acquitted him in February 2020, with only one Republican, Senator Mitt Romney, voting to convict. The second impeachment occurred in January 2021, when the House voted to impeach Trump on charges of incitement to insurrection related to the events at the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021. The Senate trial occurred after Trump left office, and although a majority voted to convict, the vote fell short of the two-thirds majority needed for conviction.
Efforts to Impeach Trump in 2025
Some Democrats have introduced impeachment resolutions in 2025, but they have not gained momentum due to Republican control of the House and Senate. Representative Shri Thanedar of Michigan introduced an impeachment resolution in April 2025, citing "sweeping abuse of power, flagrant violations of the Constitution, and acts of tyranny that undermine American democracy and threaten the rule of law." However, he opted not to force a vote on the resolution at the last minute. Representative Al Green of Texas has also introduced multiple resolutions to impeach Trump, including one in December 2025, which was tabled by a 237-140 vote.
History of Presidential Impeachments
Three presidents have been impeached in U.S. history, but all were acquitted after Senate trials. In addition to Trump, the other two presidents who were impeached are Andrew Johnson and Bill Clinton. Johnson was impeached in 1868 on charges of "high crimes and misdemeanors" related to his removal of Secretary of War Edwin Stanton, but was acquitted by a single vote in the Senate. Clinton was impeached in 1998 on charges of perjury and obstruction of justice, but was acquitted by the Senate in 1999. Despite these impeachments, none of these presidents were removed from office, highlighting the high bar for conviction in the Senate.
