Trump reacts to impeachment acquittal with customary aplomb, says he's President '4-eva'

Moments after being acquitted of all charges on both articles of impeachment by Senate, United States President Donald Trump took to Twitter and shared a video showing him running for President till eternity.  30-second clip was earlier shared by him in 2019 amid escalating tension with Iran. As President was cleared of impeachment charges, which he has maintained was "witch-hunt" against him, he shared same video reportedly created by a pro-Trump meme maker. video was based on a Time magazine cover and accompanying video from 2018 that made case for why “Trumpism will outlast Trump.”

After five months of hearings and investigations, a divided US Senate acquitted him of charges that he abused his power and obstructed Congress to aid his own re-election. While he was acquitted 52-48 on first article of impeachment, 53-47 on second article of impeachment.  result means that President Trump will remain in office for rest of his term and will fight for a second term during Presidential elections scheduled in vember this year. Trump was third president in American history to be impeached and acquitted, after Andrew Johnson in 1868 and Bill Clinton in 1998. Two-thirds of “guilty” votes that is 67 would have been needed to convict and remove Trump from office.

Donald Trump 'a threat to American democracy': Pelosi after Senate acquits US President

Charges on Trump

In August 2019, a whistleblower complained that White House officials believed y had witnessed Trump abuse his power for re-election. President was accused asking for "favour" from Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky, to open an inquiry against former Vice President Joe Biden, who could be Trump’s Democratic opponent in vember election. He had said, “I would like you to do us a favour”, and subsequently brought up Biden and his son Hunter who at one time worked in Ukraine.

Thus,  first article of impeachment: “Abuse of power”, sent by House to Senate accused Trump of seeking “ interference of a foreign government, Ukraine, in 2020 United States Presidential election." It went on to add: "Trump has used powers of Presidency in a manner that compromised national security of United States and undermined integrity of United States democratic process." 

Trump wins acquittal, but Ukraine saga far from over

second article of impeachment, “Obstruction of Congress”, accused Trump of directing Executive Branch ncies and officials t to comply with subpoenas, seeking to “arrogate to himself right to determine propriety, scope, and nature of an impeachment inquiry into his own conduct”. 

Trump impeached by House 

House dominated by Democrats, last year in December passed abuse of power article of impeachment on party-line 230-197 vote. Subsequently, House also passed  second article of impeachment charging Trump with obstruction of Congress by 229-198 vote. Senate trial began reafter, and on Wednesday, on trial day 13, he was acquitted.

Impeachment was a method devised by United States’ forefars, after breaking away from Britain and King George III in 18th century, to enable Congress to remove a president who has committed “high crimes and misdemears.”

Trump barrels into reelect fight, emboldened after acquittal

Donald Trump acquitted of all impeachment charges by US Senate