Similarities Between Trump's Impeachments

Some similarities and differences between Trump’s impeachments and other presidential impeachments are:

Trump’s impeachments are more frequent, recent, and unprecedented than other presidential impeachments. They occurred within a span of 13 months, during his first and last years in office. They also made him the first president to be impeached twice and the first president to be impeached after leaving office. No other president has faced impeachment more than once or after their term ended. The previous impeachments of Johnson, Nixon, and Clinton occurred at different times and for different reasons. Johnson was impeached in 1868, near the end of his term, for violating a congressional law. Nixon faced impeachment in 1974, in his second term, for his role in the Watergate scandal. Clinton was impeached in 1998, in his second term, for his affair with Monica Lewinsky.

They sparked fierce debates and protests over the constitutional grounds, evidentiary standards, and political implications of impeaching a president. They also had significant impacts on the 2020 election, the 2021 insurrection, and the 2024 election. The previous impeachments of Johnson, Nixon, and Clinton were less controversial, contentious, and consequential. They involved more clear-cut cases of presidential misconduct and more consensus on the impeachment process and outcome. They also had less impact on the political landscape and public opinion. Johnson’s impeachment did not affect his term or his party’s prospects. Nixon’s impeachment inquiry led to his resignation and his party’s defeat. Clinton’s impeachment did not affect his popularity or his party’s