If you’re looking for a quick answer, the last president to be impeached was Donald J. Trump. Honestly, he didn't just do it once; he managed to hit that milestone twice.
History books usually feel like they happened a million years ago, but this is fresh. We’re talking about events that redefined how the U.S. government handles its "checks and balances." It’s kinda wild when you think about it. For over a century, impeachment was this dusty constitutional tool that nobody really used. Then, suddenly, the 21st century turned it into a recurring news cycle.
The Double Impeachment of Donald Trump
Most people remember the chaos, but the specifics of why it happened twice can get a bit blurry.
The first time was in December 2019. The House of Representatives charged him with abuse of power and obstruction of Congress. This whole thing centered on a phone call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Basically, the allegation was that Trump held up military aid to pressure Ukraine into investigating Joe Biden.
Fast forward to January 2021, just days before his term ended. The House impeached him again. This time the charge was incitement of insurrection following the January 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol.
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What actually happened in the Senate?
Here is where the "human" part of the story gets interesting. Being impeached isn't the same as being kicked out of office. Think of the House impeachment like a formal charge—sorta like being indicted. The Senate then acts as the jury.
In both cases, Trump was acquitted.
- 2020 Trial: The Senate voted 48–52 on abuse of power and 47–53 on obstruction. You need a two-thirds majority (67 votes) to actually convict. It wasn't even close.
- 2021 Trial: This one was a bit more dramatic. The vote was 57 guilty to 43 not guilty. While seven Republicans joined the Democrats, it still fell ten votes short of the 67 needed.
Why does everyone keep talking about it in 2026?
You might notice that impeachment talk hasn't exactly gone away. As of January 2026, there are actually new rumblings in Congress. Rep. Al Green and others have recently discussed fresh resolutions.
Why? It mostly stems from disagreements over executive power and specific military actions, like recent events involving Venezuela. Politics in 2026 is just as polarized as it was back in 2021. Some lawmakers feel that impeachment is the only way to "reign in" a president, while others argue it's being "weaponized" as a political tool.
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Before Trump, who was on the list?
It’s a very short list. Before 2019, only two other presidents had ever faced this:
- Bill Clinton (1998): Charged with perjury and obstruction of justice stemming from the Monica Lewinsky scandal. He was acquitted by the Senate in 1999.
- Andrew Johnson (1868): He was the first. He dodged conviction by a single vote. One vote. Wait—what about Richard Nixon?
That’s the biggest "gotcha" in history trivia. Richard Nixon was never impeached. He resigned in 1974 before the House could vote on the articles. He saw the writing on the wall and quit because he knew the Senate would definitely convict him.
The Nuance of the Process
The process is designed to be hard. The Founding Fathers didn't want a "tenure during pleasure of the Senate," as James Madison put it. They wanted a system where a president could only be removed for "High Crimes and Misdemeanors."
The problem? No one can agree on what that actually means.
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Is a "High Crime" a literal crime you can go to jail for? Or is it just a massive breach of public trust? Legal scholars have been arguing about this since the 1700s. In the Trump trials, his defense argued that since he hadn't committed a specific statutory crime (like robbery or murder), he couldn't be impeached. The House managers argued that "High Crimes" refers to the abuse of the office itself.
Key Takeaways for You
If you're trying to keep the facts straight, here is the breakdown:
- The Last Impeached President: Donald Trump (twice).
- The Result: Acquitted both times.
- The Total Count: Only three presidents in U.S. history have been impeached (Johnson, Clinton, Trump).
- The Current Vibe: In 2026, the "threat" of impeachment has become a standard part of the political playbook.
Next Steps to Stay Informed
If you want to understand how these proceedings actually impact the law, you should look into the War Powers Resolution. It’s the centerpiece of the current 2026 debates in the House. You can also track active resolutions on Congress.gov to see if any new articles of impeachment actually make it out of the Judiciary Committee.
Understanding the difference between "impeachment" and "conviction" is the best way to cut through the noise on the news.