A petition urging the impeachment of President Donald Trump has attracted more than 165,000 signatures. As of publication, the petition, launched by the non-partisan organization Blackout The System, has been signed by 166,546 people, placing it fewer than 35k signatures away from the 200,000 mark.
The petition alleges Trump is guilty of “greed, corruption, and a lack of accountability in leadership,” the “exploitation of the American people,” and says he has “repeatedly violated” the U.S. Constitution while mismanaging the economy.
“This petition calls on all Americans to come together, to make our voices heard, and to demand the impeachment of Donald Trump,” the petition states.
Carlos Álvarez-Aranyos, founder of American Opposition, which partnered with Blackout The System, told Newsweek: “Impeachment, conviction, and removal is the healthiest pathway to ending this nightmare, as it removes the fascist regime while reasserting the power of our Constitution. Our system was built to deal with threats like Donald Trump. Our current failure is human. We need our representatives to wake up and use the tools the Founders gave them to save our republic before it’s too late.”
Growing dissatisfaction with Trump has helped fuel renewed calls for impeachment. Attempts to remove him from office could harm his public image and strain relationships with Republican lawmakers during a year when voters are preparing for midterm elections.
Trump was impeached twice during his first term but was acquitted by the U.S. Senate on both occasions. With Republicans currently holding a majority in the House of Representatives, another impeachment effort is widely seen as unlikely to succeed.
The petition claims Trump’s policies “threaten our rights, our democracy, and our future.” It accuses the administration of “attacks on immigrants, cuts to veterans’ benefits, undermining of health care systems, degradation of public schools and education, and reductions in essential food assistance programs,” arguing these actions “have left the most vulnerable among us in a state of despair.”
It further asserts that “our economy lies in shambles” and that “the American people are suffering.”
Trump has also faced additional impeachment warnings in recent weeks. Nebraska Republican Dan Bacon said Trump’s interest in taking over Greenland could trigger bipartisan impeachment efforts. “It would be the end of his presidency,” Bacon told reporters.
Texas Democrat Al Green said during a speech outside the U.S. Capitol earlier this month: “I pledge to you that I will do all that I can, including make efforts to impeach Donald John Trump, for all that he has done to create this stain on the citadel of democracy.”
Green previously introduced articles of impeachment against Trump in May, arguing he was “unfit to be president.” In December, he attempted again, but the effort failed to gain enough support.
In April, Representative Shri Thanedar introduced seven articles of impeachment against Trump, citing several issues including Trump’s use of the Department of Government Efficiency and the rollout of what he described as “damaging tariffs” on U.S. trading partners.
Earlier this month, Trump said he was concerned about the possibility of impeachment if Republicans perform poorly in the November midterm elections. “But you gotta win the midterms, because if we don’t win the midterms, it’s just going to be, I mean, they’ll find a reason to impeach me,” Trump told House Republicans, adding: “I’ll get impeached.”
Scott Lucas, a professor of international politics at University College Dublin, told Newsweek the petition “highlights very serious issues” and demonstrates that “not all Americans are on board” with Trump’s presidency.
The petition states: “Greed, corruption, and a lack of accountability in leadership have run rampant under Donald Trump’s administration. This is not a matter of political views but of human rights and justice. The exploitation of the American people and the blatant disregard for our well-being has reached unprecedented levels. As citizens of this nation, we find ourselves under policies that threaten our rights, our democracy, and our future.”
It continues by arguing that the Constitution “has been repeatedly violated,” pointing to “attacks on immigrants, cuts to veterans’ benefits, undermining of healthcare systems, degradation of public schools and education, and reductions in essential food assistance programs,” which it says have pushed vulnerable communities into despair. The petition also cites “relentless attacks on women and youth—affecting access to food, shelter, and education—as a direct affront on our society’s conscience.”
It adds: “Our economy lies in shambles, not because of external forces, but due to mismanagement and shortsighted policies that prioritize self-interest over national interest. The American people are suffering and can’t afford to be patient any longer. The time has come to hold this administration accountable for its actions that have deeply harmed our society.”
At an April rally, Trump responded to previous impeachment articles filed against him, saying: “Today they did it again. Some guy that I’ve never heard of…is he a congressman? This guy, he said…‘ladies and gentlemen, I am going to start the impeachment of Donald Trump.’ What the hell did I do? Here we go again.”
Despite the petition’s momentum, an impeachment in the near future appears unlikely due to Republican control of Congress. Lucas said: “I don’t think the petition is going to succeed in having Donald Trump impeached.”
Proceed to the petition – ImpeachTrumpPetition
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