In breaking news for your Thursday morning, Donald Trump just became the first US President to be impeached not once… but TWICE. 

The US House of Representatives today voted to impeach Trump – the 45th President of the United States – for “inciting violence against the government of the United States”, based on his incendiary messages of support to the MAGA extremists who stormed the US Capitol building last week.

The vote passed 232 for the article of impeachment to 197, with 10 republicans voting to impeach Donald Trump.

In incredible scenes a handful of Republicans cross the floor to side with the Democrats on the impeachment proceedings creating a massive split between the two parties. 

We’ve now seen Trump lose the election and the republicans lose the majority. 

He will now face a Senate trial after the swearing in of his successor Joe Biden next week. If the senators find Trump guilty, he’ll be barred from ever holding an official governmental position in the future.

Introducing the article of impeachment, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi described last Wednesday’s siege of the Capitol as a “day of fire”.

“We know that the president of the United States incited this insurrection, armed rebellion, against our common country,” she said.

“It breaks my heart. It should break your heart. It should break all of our hearts.”

It’s also notable that Trump is slated to leave office on January 20 anyway. But if the senators find Trump guilty, he could lose all of the various perks and subsidies for ex-presidents which according to the National Taxpayers Union, the government spends about $4 million a year on:

  • pensions equal to the annual pay of a White House cabinet member ($221,400 in 2021)
  • starting six months after leaving office, a governmental allowance for an office, staffing and equipment;
  • reimbursed travel expenses of up to $1 million annually for the ex-president and up to two staffers; spouses are allowed up to $500,000 for travel;
  • lifetime security services provided by the Secret Service;
  • health benefits through the government’s Federal Employees Health Benefits Program, but only if they had five years of federal employment (Trump, like Jimmy Carter, would not qualify with only four years of civilian service);
  • funerals with full honors and the option of being buried in Arlington National Cemetery.

He will also lose the right to run again in 2024.

Good riddance. 

Image: Drew Angerer / Staff via Getty Images