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President Donald Trump is pressing Congress to pass a resolution that would symbolically nullify the two impeachments he faced during his first term, a White House official confirmed on Thursday. The effort, first reported by the Wall Street Journal, is aimed at allowing Trump to claim a symbolic victory on a matter that has dogged him since his first term, according to both The Guardian and the Jerusalem Post.

The resolution would have no legal effect, as the US Constitution provides no procedure for undoing an impeachment, according to both reports. Trump was impeached twice by the House of Representatives — first in 2019 for alleged abuse of power, and second in 2021 for incitement of insurrection following the January 6 attack on the US Capitol — and was acquitted by the Senate in both cases.

Coverage comparison

The Guardian, reporting from a UK perspective, framed the move as an attempt to "erase one of the darkest chapters" of Trump's political career and noted that any attempt to revisit the impeachments could draw renewed attention to the allegations. The Jerusalem Post, with a MENA/Israel focus, reported the story more neutrally, emphasizing that Trump's anger over the impeachments fueled his 2024 presidential campaign, in which he defeated Democrat Kamala Harris.

Both outlets relied on a White House official who confirmed the report, and both noted that the resolution would carry little legal significance. The Guardian additionally quoted political commentator SE Cupp and Democratic Representative Ted Lieu, who criticized the move as reopening contentious episodes before the upcoming midterm elections.

Key claims

  • Trump was impeached twice by the US House of Representatives — first for alleged abuse of power and second for inciting an insurrection over the January 6, 2021, attack on the US Capitol. He was acquitted in both cases. (Reported by both The Guardian and the Jerusalem Post)
  • Trump and his allies are pushing lawmakers to pass a resolution to void the impeachments. (Confirmed by a White House official, as reported by both outlets)
  • The resolution would allow Trump to claim a symbolic victory but would have little legal significance since the Constitution provides no procedure for undoing an impeachment. (Reported by both outlets)
  • Democrats have criticized the effort, with Representative Ted Lieu arguing it would dredge up the reasons for impeachment. (Reported by The Guardian)
  • Constitutional scholars note that the US Constitution contains no mechanism for reversing or cancelling an impeachment. (Reported by The Guardian)

Perspectives

Supporters of the resolution view it as a symbolic repudiation of what they regard as politically motivated proceedings. A White House spokeswoman, quoted by the Jerusalem Post, said, "It’s no surprise that sane individuals are recognizing these sham efforts and are interested in undoing those shameful actions." Critics, including Democrats and some commentators, argue the move risks drawing renewed attention to the allegations and could become a distraction during the midterm election cycle. The White House official confirmed that officials have "strongly urged forward progress on this issue," indicating the administration's commitment to the measure.