The Disappointment of Trump’s Second Impeachment

By Maya Taylor-Prince ‘24

Feb. 5 could have been a day of reckoning for former President Donald Trump – and for the country. His second impeachment trial was already historic: it was the only time in US history that a president was tried a second time for high crimes and misdemeanors. It was also unique because the subject was no longer in office when he stood trial, and he could have been locked up for his crimes. 

But for the second time, the Senate acquitted Trump. I was disappointed, as I had been hoping that this impeachment would finally provide closure for our country after four years of selfish and ignorant actions.
This was a president who referred to our election as rigged, refused to admit that he’d lost that election and would not attend the Presidential inauguration, a time-honored tradition. Trump was so focused on his own ego that he was unable to carry out actions that might have shown the world a unified America during a period of rocky transition.
The vote this time around did offer some hope for the conscience of our country. Seven Republicans broke with their party and voted against Trump, leading to an outcome that, while the same as the first impeachment trial, was not based solely on party lines. 
Still, most Republican Senators supported Trump, likely to protect their positions in office as their voting base was made of Trump supporters. This means that these Senators were more concerned with losing votes than with doing what they knew was right. As a patriotic American, I find that depressing. My hope is that, in the future, our elected officials choose to put the country before politics and do what’s in the best interest of the voters – since we are the reason they are in office to begin with.