How Many Times Has Trump Been Impeached? Donald Trump, the 45th President of the United States, has had a presidency marked by significant controversy, including being the only U.S. president to face impeachment not once, but twice. If you’ve found yourself wondering, “How many times has Trump been impeached?” the answer is straightforward: two times. But the story behind these impeachments is anything but simple. Let’s dive into the details of these historic events, what led to them, and their outcomes, all while keeping things clear and conversational.
Impeachment is a rare and serious process in American politics, reserved for cases where a president is accused of “high crimes and misdemeanors.” For Trump, both impeachments stirred intense debate, polarized public opinion, and left a lasting mark on his political legacy. Below, we’ll break it down with five key aspects to give you a full picture of what happened.
Table of Contents
The First Impeachment: Ukraine and the Phone Call
Trump’s first impeachment came in 2019, during his third year in office. It centered around a phone call he made to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. The call raised red flags when a whistleblower revealed that Trump had asked Zelenskyy to investigate Joe Biden, his potential 2020 election rival, and Biden’s son, Hunter. The allegation? Trump was withholding military aid to Ukraine to pressure them into digging up dirt on Biden.
This led to a House of Representatives investigation, which concluded that Trump’s actions constituted an abuse of power. The House voted to impeach him on two articles:
- Abuse of Power: For pressuring a foreign government to interfere in U.S. elections.
- Obstruction of Congress: For blocking efforts to investigate by refusing to provide documents or allow witnesses to testify.
The vote passed largely along party lines, with Democrats in favor and Republicans against. In early 2020, the case moved to the Senate for a trial, where a two-thirds majority was needed to convict and remove Trump from office. The Senate, controlled by Republicans at the time, acquitted Trump on both charges, allowing him to remain in office.
The Second Impeachment: The Capitol Riot
Trump’s second impeachment came just weeks before he left office in January 2021, making him the only president in U.S. history to be impeached twice. This time, the charge stemmed from the January 6th Capitol riot, when a mob of Trump supporters stormed the U.S. Capitol to disrupt the certification of Joe Biden’s 2020 election win. Many believed Trump’s fiery rhetoric at a rally earlier that day, where he urged supporters to “fight like hell,” incited the violence.
The House moved quickly, impeaching Trump on a single article:
- Incitement of Insurrection: For his role in encouraging the attack on the Capitol, which resulted in five deaths and numerous injuries.
This impeachment was historic not only because it was Trump’s second but also because it happened with remarkable speed—within a week of the riot. The House vote saw some Republican support, a rare break from party loyalty. However, when the case reached the Senate, Trump was acquitted again. Although seven Republican senators joined Democrats in voting to convict, the 57-43 vote fell short of the two-thirds majority needed.
The Impeachment Process Explained
To understand Trump’s impeachments, it helps to know how the process works. Impeachment is a constitutional mechanism designed to hold federal officials accountable. Here’s a quick breakdown of how it unfolds:
- The House Investigates: The House of Representatives conducts an investigation, often through committees, to determine if there’s enough evidence to charge the president.
- Articles of Impeachment: If the evidence is compelling, the House drafts articles of impeachment, which are formal charges. A simple majority vote in the House is enough to impeach.
- Senate Trial: The Senate holds a trial, with senators acting as jurors. The House appoints managers to act as prosecutors, and the president’s legal team defends them.
- Conviction or Acquittal: A two-thirds vote in the Senate is required to convict and remove the president from office. If acquitted, they stay in office.
In both of Trump’s cases, the House successfully impeached him, but the Senate’s high bar for conviction—requiring 67 out of 100 senators to agree—proved insurmountable.
Political and Public Reactions
Both impeachments were lightning rods for controversy. Supporters of Trump argued that the charges were politically motivated, driven by Democrats eager to tarnish his reputation. Critics, however, saw the impeachments as necessary to uphold democratic principles and hold Trump accountable for actions they viewed as dangerous.
Public opinion was deeply divided. Polls from 2019 and 2021 showed roughly half of Americans supported impeachment, while the other half opposed it, often split along party lines. The second impeachment, tied to the Capitol riot, saw slightly broader support, including from some Republicans, but the partisan divide remained stark.
The impeachments also had ripple effects:
- Political Polarization: They deepened the divide between Democrats and Republicans, making bipartisan cooperation even harder.
- Trump’s Base: Far from weakening Trump’s support, the impeachments galvanized his base, who viewed them as unfair attacks.
- Historical Legacy: Being impeached twice cemented Trump’s place in history as a uniquely polarizing figure.
What Does This Mean for Trump’s Legacy?
Trump’s dual impeachments are a defining part of his political story. They highlight the intense scrutiny he faced as president and the challenges of holding a sitting president accountable in a polarized climate. While he avoided removal from office, the impeachments left a stain on his record, with historians likely to debate their significance for decades.
For Trump’s supporters, the acquittals were a victory, reinforcing his narrative of being targeted by political opponents. For his critics, the failure to convict underscored the difficulty of enforcing accountability when party loyalty dominates. Either way, the question of “how many times has Trump been impeached” will remain a key part of his legacy.
As of August 2025, Trump remains a prominent figure in American politics, and the impeachments continue to shape discussions about his leadership and influence. Whether you view them as justified or overreach, they’re a reminder of how divisive and unprecedented his presidency was.
In summary, Donald Trump was impeached twice—once in 2019 for his Ukraine dealings and again in 2021 for inciting the Capitol riot. Both times, he was acquitted by the Senate, but the events left a lasting impact on the nation. If you’re curious about more details or want to dive deeper into any aspect, let me know!