Which U.S. Presidents Were Impeached — Three U.S. presidents have been impeached by the House: Andrew Johnson (1868), Bill Clinton (1998), and Donald Trump (2019 and 2021). None were removed by a Senate conviction; here’s what happened next in each case and how impeachment works.
- Andrew Johnson — 1868
- Bill Clinton — 1998 (Senate trial 1999)
- Donald Trump — 2019 (Senate trial 2020) and 2021 (Senate trial 2021–22)
How Many U.S. Presidents Have Been Impeached?
Three presidents have been impeached by the House of Representatives. Donald Trump is the only president impeached twice (2019 and 2021). No president has been removed from office through Senate conviction.
- Andrew Johnson (1868)
- Bill Clinton (1998)
- Donald Trump (2019 and 2021)
Which U.S. Presidents Were Impeached—and What Happened Next?
Andrew Johnson (1868): Why He Was Impeached and What Happened Next
Andrew Johnson was impeached primarily over his violation of the Tenure of Office Act and his clashes with the Republican-controlled Congress during Reconstruction. The House adopted articles of impeachment in 1868.
What happened next (key facts):
- Senate trial resulted in acquittal: the decisive vote on one critical article was 35 “guilty” to 19 “not guilty,” one vote short of the two‑thirds needed for conviction (Senate Historical Office).
- Johnson remained in office and completed his term; he lost support for renomination in 1868.
- Political aftermath: Reconstruction continued under his successor; Johnson later won a Senate seat in 1875.
Bill Clinton (1998): Why He Was Impeached and What Happened Next
Bill Clinton was impeached by the House in December 1998 on charges of perjury and obstruction of justice arising from the Monica Lewinsky investigation and related testimonies.
What happened next (key facts):
- The House approved two articles: perjury before a grand jury (228–206) and obstruction of justice (221–212).
- The Senate acquitted Clinton: the perjury article had 45 guilty votes to 55 not guilty; the obstruction article was 50–50 (both short of the 67 guilty votes required).
- Clinton finished his second term; his approval ratings rebounded and he was not disqualified from holding future office.
Donald Trump (2019 and 2021): Why He Was Impeached and What Happened Next
Donald Trump was impeached twice by the House.
- First impeachment (December 2019): Articles charged abuse of power and obstruction of Congress related to Ukraine and his dealings with Ukrainian officials. House votes were Abuse of Power 230–197–1 and Obstruction 229–198–1. The Senate acquitted (guilty votes reported as 48 and 47, respectively, short of the two‑thirds threshold).
- Second impeachment (January 2021): Article charged incitement of insurrection after the January 6, 2021 attack on the U.S. Capitol. The House approved the article 232–197. The Senate trial in February 2021 produced a 57–43 vote to convict—this was the most guilty votes for a presidential impeachment trial in history but still short of the 67 votes needed to convict; the Senate therefore acquitted.
What happened next (key facts):
- After the first acquittal, Trump completed his term and remained eligible to run for federal office—acquittal does not automatically bar future officeholding.
- After the second trial, the Senate voted that trying a former president was constitutional (precedent and majority vote), but the conviction threshold was not met; Trump remained eligible for future office.
- Legal and political fallout continued in courts and public debate, but no Senate conviction removed him from office.
Impeachment vs Removal: What Happens After Impeachment in the U.S.?
Definitions and steps:
- Impeachment = the House of Representatives brings formal charges against a federal official (simple majority vote).
- Removal/Conviction = the Senate tries the case; conviction requires a two‑thirds (67 of 100) vote. Upon conviction, the Senate may also vote (by simple majority) to disqualify the person from holding future federal office.
What happens next (typical sequence):
- House investigates and votes to impeach (articles of impeachment).
- Articles are transmitted to the Senate; the Senate holds a trial. For a sitting president, the Chief Justice of the United States presides.
- The Senate votes: acquittal (fewer than 2/3 guilty votes) or conviction (2/3 or more). If convicted, removal is automatic and disqualification is decided separately.
- If the president resigns before conviction (e.g., Nixon in 1974), impeachment proceedings may be moot; a former president can still face a post‑office trial (see 2021 precedent regarding post‑term trials).
Important note: No U.S. president has ever been removed from office by Senate conviction. Richard Nixon resigned in 1974 after the House Judiciary Committee approved articles of impeachment; he was never impeached by the full House.
Quick Comparison Table: Presidents Impeached, Charges, Votes, and Outcomes
| President | Year(s) | House Articles & Vote(s) | Senate Votes (guilty) | Outcome | What Happened Next |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Andrew Johnson | 1868 | Articles approved after House vote (initial resolution 126–47) | Key article: 35–19 (one vote short of 2/3) | Acquitted | Remained in office, lost 1868 renomination, later elected to Senate (1875). |
| Bill Clinton | 1998–99 | Perjury 228–206; Obstruction 221–212 | Perjury: 45; Obstruction: 50 | Acquitted | Completed term; approval rebounded; no disqualification. |
| Donald Trump | 2019–20 | Abuse of Power 230–197–1; Obstruction 229–198–1 | 48; 47 | Acquitted | Completed term; remained eligible for office. |
| Donald Trump | 2021–22 | Incitement of Insurrection 232–197 | 57 | Acquitted (57 short of 67) | Tried post‑term; remained eligible for office; unprecedented 57 guilty votes. |
Timeline of Presidential Impeachments
- 1867–1868: House impeachment inquiry and votes against Andrew Johnson; Senate trial in spring 1868; acquittal by one vote (May 1868).
- 1998–1999: House impeachment of Bill Clinton (Dec 1998); Senate trial and acquittal (Feb 1999).
- Dec 2019–Feb 2020: First impeachment of Donald Trump; House impeached (Dec 2019); Senate acquitted (Feb 2020).
- Jan–Feb 2021: House impeached Donald Trump for incitement (Jan 13, 2021); Senate trial held Feb 2021–Feb 13, 2021 (acquittal). (Senate later voted in Feb 2021 that trials of former officials are constitutional.)
Was Nixon Impeached? Why He Resigned Instead
Short answer: No — Richard Nixon was not impeached by the full House. The House Judiciary Committee approved articles of impeachment in July 1974, and articles were likely to pass the full House; Nixon resigned on August 8, 1974, before the full House vote. He was later pardoned by President Gerald Ford.
Did you know? Nixon’s resignation made impeachment unnecessary, but the Judiciary Committee’s actions show how impeachment pressure can force resignation before a full House vote.
FAQ — What Happens Next After Impeachment? (
Has any U.S. president been removed from office by impeachment?
No. No U.S. president has been removed by Senate conviction. Nixon resigned before a full House vote; Johnson, Clinton, and Trump were acquitted by the Senate.
Can an impeached president run again?
Yes. Impeachment alone does not bar someone from future office. Only a subsequent Senate vote to disqualify (after conviction) can prevent holding future office.
Can a president be impeached after leaving office?
The Senate in 2021 held that trying a former president is constitutional in at least some circumstances, a position with precedent (e.g., the 1876 Belknap case). However, legal and constitutional debate continues.
Who presides over a presidential impeachment trial?
If the president is the defendant and is still in office, the Chief Justice of the United States presides over the Senate trial.
What are “high crimes and misdemeanors”?
The Constitution uses that phrase as the standard for impeachment. It is a political-constitutional term, historically interpreted to include abuses of power, serious breaches of public trust, and other misconduct—not limited to indictable criminal offenses (see CRS analyses).
Has any U.S. president been impeached twice?
Yes. Donald Trump is the only president to be impeached twice (2019 and 2021).