Why It Matters

The renewed push for Donald Trump’s impeachment underscores the deep political divisions in the country and the ongoing fallout from his campaign.

What To Know

An effort to impeach Trump has been launched by the non-partisan organization Free Speech For People.

According to the group, which is the parent organization of the “Impeach Trump. Again” campaign, Trump’s return to the White House “poses an unprecedented threat to our democracy.”

The group claims that Trump is disqualified from the presidency over his role in the January 6 Capitol riots under the 14th Amendment, which states that anyone, including the president, who takes an oath of office to uphold the Constitution and then engages in insurrection is disqualified from future public office.

Trump has pleaded not guilty to all charges against him related to the events of January 6. A Supreme Court ruling also found that former presidents have broad immunity from criminal prosecution for actions that are considered official duties, putting a significant roadblock in the way of the case against him, which has now been dropped.

However, a report by former special counsel Jack Smith recently found that there was enough evidence to prosecute Trump had he not been reelected.

Meanwhile, Free Speech For People also claims that Trump violated the emoluments clauses of the Constitution, which limits what gifts and titles federal officials can receive.

“Trump has refused to sell his ownership stake in companies through which he is assured to receive substantial payments from foreign governments in violation of the Foreign Emoluments Clause,” Free Speech For People claims.

“At least five foreign governments pay a combined $2 million per month in fees for their units in Trump World Tower; and because all five of these foreign governments are currently paying Trump these monthly fees, Trump is in violation of the Foreign Emoluments Clause from the moment he took the oath of office.”

The Trump Organization previously said that Trump would hand over daily management of his multibillion-dollar real estate, hotel, golf, media and licensing portfolio to his children when he enters the White House. The same arrangement was made during Trump’s first term.

Additional allegations were made by the Impeach Trump campaign. Again these include claims of campaign finance violations, including offering tax and regulatory benefits to oil and gas executives in exchange for $1 billion in contributions, concealing legal service payments, coordinating with super PACs funded by billionaires later appointed to key positions, and accepting unlawful contributions from Elon Musk through X and a lottery scheme.

The group has also highlighted Trump’s use of racist and xenophobic rhetoric, such as referring to immigrants as “bloodthirsty criminals” in Colorado, spreading false claims about Haitian immigrants in Ohio that led to threats of violence and blaming immigrants for “horrendous crimes” linked to “their genes.”

Additionally, they allege that Trump threatened violence against political opponents, journalists, protesters and a U.S. military commander, and that he spread dangerous disinformation about hurricane disaster responses.

Trump’s Previous Impeachments

During his first stint in the White House, Trump was twice impeached by the Democrat-controlled House, the first time in 2019 over his alleged attempt to pressure Ukraine to investigate then-candidate Joe Biden and the second in January 2021 over his role in the January 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol.

He was acquitted by the Senate in both cases.

Could Trump Be Impeached Again?

Impeaching and removing a president from office has never been accomplished and remains unlikely unless one party controls both chambers of Congress by wide margins.

Currently, the Republicans control both the House and the Senate, making a third impeachment very unlikely.

What People Are Saying

John Bonifaz, President of Free Speech For People, said: "Trump’s return to the White House poses an unprecedented threat to our democracy. During his campaign and in the months before his inauguration, Donald Trump engaged in unlawful, unconstitutional conduct and threatened more.

“He has once more positioned himself to abuse the office for personal profit and power in violation of clear constitutional commands and at the expense of our democratic institutions, constitutional precedent and the safety of our country’s most vulnerable.”

What Happens Next

It is highly unlikely that Trump will see another impeachment while Republicans have control of both the House and the Senate.

But former Trump adviser Steve Bannon warned in November during an episode of his War Room podcast that House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, a New York Democrat, would lead the charge to another Trump impeachment if House control flips during the midterms in 2026.

“Hakeem Jeffries could be, will be, the speaker of the House in two years,” Bannon said. “And the first thing he will do in the early days of 2027 is move to impeach Donald Trump. Trust me. They’re gonna put $10 billion in back of him. They have nobody else.”

He continued: “… Hakeem Jeffries is just sitting there, right? He’s ready to go. The [billionaire Democratic donor] Reid Hoffmans of the world are gonna put $10 billion in back of him to win a couple of seats, a handful of seats, in places that are kind of Democratic anyway.”