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By James Bickerton
News Reporter
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President Donald Trump has suggested Republicans in Congress should "start to think about expelling" two House Democrats from the legislature who are pushing a third impeachment vote against him.
Trump made the remark on his Truth Social website after Representative Shri Thanedar, a Michigan Democrat, introduced seven articles of impeachment targeting Trump on Monday. The bid is being cosponsored by Representative Jan Schakowsky of Illinois. Texas Democratic Representative Al Green has also said he plans to launch an impeachment bid against the president.
Why It Matters
Trump was impeached twice during his first term in office, in 2019 on charges of abuse of power and obstruction of Congress and in 2021 on a charge of incitement of insurrection. In both cases, the bids failed to attract the requisite two-thirds support in the Senate resulting in acquittals.
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That some Democrats are already talking about a third impeachment bid shows their fury at the policies Trump has been implementing, some of which they argue are undermining democratic norms. These efforts could also reinforce the perception of Trump supporters that their leader is being targeted by legal machinations by opponents who can't win at the ballot box.
What To Know
In his Truth Social post on Thursday, Trump said the Democrats had "got two 'No Name,' little respected Congressmen, total Whackjobs both, throwing the 'Impeachment' of DONALD J. TRUMP around, for about the 20th time, even though they have no idea for what I would be Impeached."
He continued: "The Republicans should start to think about expelling them from Congress for all of the crimes that they have committed, especially around Election time(s). These are very dishonest people that won't let our Country heal! Why do we allow them to continuously use Impeachment as a weapon against the President of the United States who, by all accounts, is working hard to SAVE OUR COUNTRY."
On Monday, Thanedar introduced seven articles of impeachment accusing Trump of obstruction of justice, abuse of executive power, usurpation of appropriations power, abuse of trade powers and international aggression, violation of First Amendment rights, creation of an unlawful office, bribery and corruption, and tyrannical overreach.
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Thanedar linked this bid to what he said was the Trump administration "defying" a 9-0 Supreme Court ruling instructing it to "facilitate" the return of Kilmar Abrego Garcia from a mega-jail in El Salvador. The White House insists Garcia is a member of the MS-13 criminal gang, which his family denies.
Three House Democrats—Representatives Robin Kelly of Illinois, Kweisi Mfume of Maryland and Jerry Nadler of New York—were initially listed as co-sponsors of the impeachment bid but later asked to be removed. According to The Hill, Kelly and Mfume both made this move after finding out the impeachment effort was not backed by the Democratic leadership. This left Representative Schakowsky as the only remaining co-sponsor.
Speaking to reporters on Thursday, Representative Pete Aguilar, chair of the House Democratic Caucus, said he didn't support the impeachment effort as "we don't have any confidence that House and Senate Republicans would do their jobs, and so this is not an exercise that we're willing to undertake."
Green has also pledged to introduce an impeachment resolution targeting Trump.
Speaking during a rally in Washington D.C. on April 5, he said: "Within the next 30 days, I'm bringing articles of impeachment." Addressing Trump, he added: "I'm coming for you."
What People Are Saying
Speaking to Newsweek Thanedar said: "From tyranny to bribery to numerous violations of Due Process, President Trump has committed numerous impeachable offenses in his first 100 days. When I took my oath of office, I swore to defend the Constitution from all enemies, foreign and domestic. An enemy of the Constitution is sitting in 1600 Pennsylvania.
"Since President Trump took office, I have had 12 town halls across my district. Each time, I heard an overwhelming desire for impeachment from my constituents, which is why I decided to draft articles of impeachment against President Trump. I am committed to using every tool available to me to protect the American democratic system that makes our country great."
In a statement about Trump sent to Newsweek Green said: "He is continuing to make the case for why he must be impeached, because every would-be tinhorn dictator and de facto dictator does not tolerate public scrutiny. President Trump, a would-be tinhorn dictator (Goliath), realizes that impeachment is a weapon that he must fear the most, and that Congressman Al Green is the David that he must fear. Al Green will not allow a twice-impeached, 34-time convicted felon, full-time Don the Con man, and tinhorn de facto dictator to destroy American democracy. Impeachment is the constitutionally accorded remedy for a tinhorn dictator, and I'm coming for you, Mr. President!"
In his Truth Social post about impeachment, Trump also said: "It's the same playbook that they used in my First Term, and Republicans are not going to allow them to get away with it again. These are total LOWLIFES, who hate our Country, and everything it stands for. Perhaps we should start playing this game on them, and expel Democrats for the many crimes that they have committed—And these are REAL crimes. Remember, 'Shifty' Adam Schiff demanded a Pardon, and they had to use the power of the Auto Pen, and a Full Pardon, for him and the Unselect Committee of Political Thugs, to save them from Expulsion, and probably worse!"
In an X post on Monday, Thanedar said: "I have just introduced articles of impeachment against President Trump. Donald Trump is not above the law, and when he ignores the constitution, he should be held accountable."
What Happens Next
The chances of any bid to impeach Trump succeeding in the near term are extremely low. Impeachment requires majority support in the House of Representatives and subsequent conviction needs two-thirds support in the Senate, both chambers of which currently have Republican majorities. No American president has been convicted in an impeachment trial in U.S. history.
Update 5/3/25, 3:15 a.m. ET: This story has been updated with comment from Reps. Thanedar and Green.
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