The potential date President Trump and Vice President JD Vance could be removed from power if Democrats manage to impeach them has been revealed.
Earlier this week, the 79-year-old warned Republicans in the House of Representatives that a failure to secure a majority in the upcoming midterm elections could lead to his impeachment - a constitutional process that allows the House of Representatives to charge the president with misconduct.
With Republicans currently holding a narrow majority, Trump emphasized the serious consequences of losing control, as reported by Reuters.
“You’ve got to win the midterms because, if we don’t win the midterms, it’s just going to be - I mean, they’ll find a reason to impeach me,” he told the legislators.
“I’ll be impeached.”
Trump’s Impeachment History
Trump, the only US president to be impeached twice, made headlines with his first impeachment in 2019, involving allegations that he sought help from Ukraine to boost his chances for re-election. Despite the controversy, he was acquitted in his Senate trial.
His second impeachment occurred after the January 6, 2021, Capitol riot, where he faced charges of inciting an insurrection. He was again acquitted by the Senate.
"They impeached me. I never knew I was going to be impeached," Trump said at the House of Representatives this week.
"I get a phone call. You just got impeached. I said, ‘What does that mean?’"
"It took them ten minutes… they impeached the president who did a damn good job," he continued.
"I rebuilt our military, space force, I got everything. I did a lot.
"They impeached me for nothing twice. For nothing."
Could A Third Impeachment Be Imminent?
If Democrats take control of the House after the 2026 midterm elections, impeachment proceedings could begin immediately after Congress reconvenes on January 3, 2027.
Senate trials usually take weeks or months to proceed, but a conviction could follow shortly after the articles of impeachment are passed in the House.
If convicted, Trump would be removed from office well before the next presidential inauguration.
According to NYMag, the actual likelihood of impeachment happening depends on several factors.
Democrats will need to carefully consider whether it is worth impeaching Trump again, knowing that Republicans could mobilize their base in opposition and use the impeachment threat as a rallying cry.
This tactic worked for Bill Clinton in 1998 when Democrats managed to make gains in the midterms, despite the looming impeachment of the sitting president.
The Case for a Third Impeachment
Recently, Michigan Democrat Shri Thanedar introduced new articles of impeachment against the two-time impeached president.
- Obstruction of Justice and Abuse of Executive Power: Including denial of due process, unlawful deportations, defiance of court orders, and misuse of the Department of Justice.
- Usurpation of Appropriations Power: For dismantling congressionally established agencies and impounding federal funds
- Abuse of Trade Powers and International Aggression: Including imposing economically damaging tariffs and threatening military invasion against sovereign nations.
- Violation of First Amendment Rights: Through retaliatory actions against critics, media, and attorneys exercising constitutionally protected speech.
- Creation of an Unlawful Office: By establishing the Department of Government Efficiency (“DOGE”) and unlawfully empowering Elon Musk to unilaterally violate the Constitution.
- Bribery and Corruption: Involving dismissing criminal cases, soliciting foreign emoluments, and extortionate settlements for personal and political gain.
- Tyrannical Overreach: Seeking to consolidate unchecked power, erode civil liberties, and defy constitutional limits on presidential authority.
The case is supported by the president's wide-ranging executive orders, which many view as significant overreach.
In response, Trump’s team is reportedly preparing a defense by claiming that impeachment proceedings would distract from his administration’s work and delay its priorities.
Why the Delay Until 2027?
An Impeachment can’t happen right now because the Republicans currently control the House.
Democrats would need to regain control, which could happen after the 2026 midterms, when the new Congress begins in January 2027.
If impeachment proceeds, a Senate trial could take place in early to mid-2027, and if convicted, Trump would be removed from office before the next presidential inauguration in January 2029.
However, even if the proceedings start in 2027, the outcome is uncertain. With Republicans holding power in the Senate, a conviction is not guaranteed, and Trump could be acquitted again.
Still, Democrats see holding the president accountable as important, even if the effort doesn’t lead to his removal.