Fact Check: Trump was impeached twice with bipartisan support for conviction both times

The Claim: "Trump was impeached twice with bipartisan support for conviction both times"

Introduction

The statement that "Trump was impeached twice with bipartisan support for conviction both times" suggests that both impeachment proceedings against former President Donald Trump garnered significant bipartisan backing in the Senate for conviction. This claim requires careful examination of the impeachment processes, the votes cast, and the definitions of "bipartisan support" and "conviction."

What We Know

1. First Impeachment (2019): Donald Trump was impeached by the House of Representatives on December 18, 2019, on charges of abuse of power and obstruction of Congress. The impeachment vote was largely along party lines, with no Republicans voting for impeachment and two Democrats voting against it. The Senate trial concluded on February 5, 2020, with Trump being acquitted. The final vote was 52-48 on the abuse of power charge and 53-47 on the obstruction charge, with only one Republican, Mitt Romney, voting to convict on the abuse of power charge, making it a largely partisan outcome 235.

2. Second Impeachment (2021): Trump was impeached a second time on January 13, 2021, for incitement of insurrection following the January 6 Capitol riot. This impeachment saw a slightly higher level of bipartisan support in the House, with ten Republican representatives voting in favor. However, the Senate trial, which took place in February 2021, resulted in a vote of 57-43 in favor of conviction, falling short of the two-thirds majority required. Seven Republican senators joined all Democrats in voting to convict, marking it as the most bipartisan presidential impeachment conviction vote to date, but still not enough for a conviction 4578.

3. Bipartisan Support: The term "bipartisan support" can be interpreted in various ways. In the context of the first impeachment, there was no bipartisan support for conviction in the Senate. In the second impeachment, while there was bipartisan support for conviction, it was not sufficient to reach the required threshold for a conviction 68.

Analysis

• Source Reliability: The information regarding the impeachments comes from multiple sources, including Wikipedia, NPR, and PolitiFact, which are generally reliable but should be approached with caution due to potential biases. Wikipedia is a useful starting point but should be cross-referenced with primary sources such as congressional records 248. NPR and PolitiFact are reputable news organizations that strive for factual reporting, though they may have editorial slants that could influence the framing of the information.

• Bipartisan Support Evaluation: The claim of bipartisan support for conviction is nuanced. While the second impeachment did see a higher number of bipartisan votes in favor of conviction compared to the first, it is essential to note that "support" does not equate to "conviction." The lack of a two-thirds majority in both cases indicates that while there was some bipartisan participation, it did not translate into a successful conviction 578.

• Methodological Concerns: The analysis of impeachment votes requires clear definitions of terms like "bipartisan support" and careful consideration of the context in which votes were cast. The political climate surrounding each impeachment was highly charged, which may have influenced how representatives and senators voted.

Conclusion

Verdict: False

The claim that "Trump was impeached twice with bipartisan support for conviction both times" is false. The evidence indicates that while the second impeachment saw some bipartisan votes in favor of conviction, it did not achieve the necessary two-thirds majority required for a conviction in the Senate. The first impeachment lacked any bipartisan support for conviction, as no Republican senators voted to convict. Thus, the assertion that both impeachments had bipartisan support for conviction is misleading.

It is important to recognize that the term "bipartisan support" can be interpreted in various ways, and while there was some bipartisan participation in the second impeachment, it did not result in a conviction. The political context surrounding both impeachments was highly charged, which may have influenced voting behavior.

Limitations in the available evidence include the potential biases of sources and the need for careful interpretation of what constitutes "bipartisan support." Readers are encouraged to critically evaluate information and consider multiple perspectives when assessing claims related to political events.

Sources

1. H.Res.353 - 119th Congress (2025-2026): Impeaching Donald John Trump. Congress.gov
2. Second impeachment trial of Donald Trump - Wikipedia. Wikipedia
3. Articles of Impeachment Against Donald John Trump. Congress.gov
4. 7 GOP Senators Voted To Convict Trump. NPR
5. Second impeachment of Donald Trump. Wikipedia
6. Trump Impeachment Trial Verdict: How Senators Voted. NPR
7. Trump acquitted of inciting insurrection, even as bipartisan support was noted. New York Times
8. PolitiFact: How bipartisan was the vote to impeach Donald Trump. PolitiFact