A petition calling for the impeachment of President Donald Trump has garnered more than 100,000 signatures just a few days into his second term.
The White House has been contacted for comment via email.
Why It Matters
The support for Trump’s impeachment underscores the deep political divisions in the country and the reaction to his campaign and actions taken in the first days of his second term.
Trump was twice impeached during his first administration, but he was acquitted by the Senate in both cases.
President Donald Trump talks to reporters from the Resolute Desk after signing an executive order to appoint the deputy administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration in the Oval Office at the White House on January 30, 2025 in Washington, DC. Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images© Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images
What to Know
The nonprofit Free Speech for People launched the petition on the day Trump returned to the White House.
It calls on Congress to launch an impeachment investigation into alleged violations of the Emoluments Clauses that prohibit a president from profiting from the United States, individual states, or foreign governments, his “unlawful” and “corrupt” conduct during his campaign and his pardoning of those who took part in the January 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol.
The campaign on Thursday added what it said were new grounds for an impeachment inquiry based on other actions Trump has taken since returning to office, including his executive order seeking to end birthright citizenship for certain children born in the U.S. It also alleges that he unlawfully fired inspector generals and members of the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and the National Labor Relations Board and is abusing his power to “seek retribution against perceived enemies.”
“Free Speech for People is calling on Congress to launch an immediate impeachment investigation to determine whether there are sufficient grounds to impeach Donald Trump for offenses that have already occurred and that will continue in the days to come,” the petition states.
“Congress must also be prepared to expand its investigation if Trump undertakes any of the other impeachable actions that he has threatened to carry out.”
What People Are Saying
Alexandra Flores-Quilty, Free Speech for People’s campaign director, said in a statement: “The overwhelming support for impeachment shows that the American public is not willing to accept King Trump.
“We need bold leaders in Congress willing to stand up and hold Trump accountable for his abuses of power and initiate an impeachment inquiry.”
John Bonifaz, co-founder and president of Free Speech for People, said: “Trump keeps taking lawless and unconstitutional actions. He has been in office for less than two weeks, and the impeachable offenses continue to pile up. We must demand accountability when a president abuses his power.”
Meanwhile, Republicans have largely praised and defended Trump’s actions since he returned to office. However, some said they didn’t support the pardoning of January 6 defendants convicted of violent crimes.
Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson wrote in a letter inviting Trump to address a joint session of Congress: “America’s Golden Age has begun. Thanks to your strong leadership and bold action in the first days of your presidency, the United States is already experiencing a resurgence of patriotism, unity, and hope for the future.”
What’s Next
It’s unlikely that efforts to impeach Trump for a third time will make headway while Republicans maintain control of both the House and Senate.
But Democrats could strive to impeach Trump again if they flip the House in the 2026 midterms.
