Two sitting U.S. presidents have been impeached by the House of Representatives, a rare constitutional process that focuses on serious misconduct while leaving removal to the Senate. Understanding which two presidents were impeached and why helps clarify the boundaries of presidential power and accountability.
Impeachment is a political and legal tool intended for significant abuses of public trust, not a simple policy disagreement or electoral defeat. The historical record shows a small number of instances where this mechanism has been formally invoked against the nation’s highest elected officials.
| President | Year of Impeachment | Primary Charge Leading to Impeachment | Senate Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| Andrew Johnson | 1868 | Violation of the Tenure of Office Act by removing a Cabinet official without Senate approval | Acquitted by one vote; remained in office |
| Bill Clinton | 1998 | Perjury and obstruction of justice related to a sexual harassment lawsuit and testimony | Acquitted on both charges; remained in office |
| Donald Trump | 2019 | Abuse of power and obstruction of Congress involving Ukraine military aid and a White House visit | Acquitted in 2020; later impeached again in 2021 after leaving office |
| Donald Trump | 2021 | Incitement of insurrection related to the January 6 attack on the Capitol | Acquitted in 2021; did not face removal after leaving office |
Andrew Johnson And The Tenure Of Office Crisis
Andrew Johnson became the first president impeached in 1868 when the House accused him of violating the Tenure of Office Act. Johnson argued that the law unconstitutionally limited his authority to remove Cabinet members without Senate consent.
The Senate trial in 1868 centered on whether his removal of Secretary of War Edwin Stanton was lawful. One senator changed his vote at the last minute, creating a one-vote margin that fell short of the two-thirds majority needed for removal.
Bill Clinton Impeachment And Partisan Conflict
Bill Clinton was impeached in 1998 after a House investigation focused on perjury and obstruction of justice tied to a sexual harassment lawsuit and sworn testimony. The House approved two articles of impeachment largely along partisan lines.
During the Senate trial, neither charge reached the threshold for conviction, and Clinton completed his term. The case intensified debates about the boundaries of presidential conduct and the role of politics in impeachment.
Donald Trump First Impeachment And Ukraine Pressure
Donald Trump was impeached for the first time in December 2019 on two charges: abuse of power and obstruction of Congress. The House investigation centered on his request to Ukraine to investigate a political rival in exchange for military aid and a White House visit.
Key witnesses and documents were blocked from the Senate trial in early 2020, and Trump was acquitted on both charges. This episode underscored deep divisions over how impeachment standards should be applied to a sitting president.
Trump Second Impeachment And January 6 Insurrection
After leaving office, Donald Trump was impeached a second time in January 2021 for incitement of insurrection related to his rhetoric before the January 6 Capitol attack. The House acted swiftly, and the Senate held a trial on the charge after his term had ended.
The debate focused on whether a former president could constitutionally be removed after leaving office. Trump was again acquitted, marking the second time a Senate failed to convict him on impeachment charges.
Key Takeaways For Understanding Presidential Impeachment
- Impeachment by the House is an accusation, not a removal; conviction and removal require a two-thirds Senate vote.
- Only two presidents, Andrew Johnson and Bill Clinton, have been impeached and acquitted while in office.
- Donald Trump is the first president impeached twice and the first to face a Senate trial after leaving office.
- No president has ever been removed from office through the impeachment process.
- The political and legal debates around these impeachments continue to shape discussions about presidential accountability.
FAQ
Reader questions
Which two presidents were actually impeached by the House of Representatives?
Andrew Johnson in 1868 and Bill Clinton in 1998 were the only two presidents impeached before Donald Trump, who was impeached twice, making him the subject of three impeachments overall.
Did either Andrew Johnson or Bill Clinton lose their office after impeachment?
No, both Andrew Johnson and Bill Clinton were acquitted in their Senate trials and remained in office until the end of their respective terms.
How does Donald Trump’s impeachment compare to Johnson and Clinton’s cases?
Trump is the only president impeached twice, and the only one impeached after leaving office, while Johnson and Clinton were impeached while in office and acquitted by the Senate.
What were the core allegations in the impeachment of Donald Trump in 2019?
The core allegations were abuse of power for conditioning military aid on investigating a political rival, and obstruction of Congress by refusing to provide documents and witnesses.