Can Trump Be Impeached in Fewer Than 12 Days? A Visual Guide to the Impeachment Process

After a mob stormed the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021 in acts of insurrection—an event that led to the death of five people following heated remarks from President Trump in a rally just moments before—leaders from both Democratic and Republican parties (but mostly from the Democratic party) have swiftly called for the removal of President Trump from office.

To remove the president from office, two options are possible:

• Invoking the 25th Amendment, which requires the Vice President to initiate, with a majority of the president’s cabinet to agree that the President is incapable of assuming the duties of president; or
• Impeach the president (for a second time in his tenure), hold a trial, and convict him.

Both situations are unprecedented and both would be very difficult to achieve. The first option is tricky because the 25th Amendment is vague and was really designed to transfer power to the Vice President should the president be injured or too ill to function as president. It wasn’t designed to remove a president for an egregious, dangerous, or illegal act. And it’s unlikely Vice President Mike Pence will take this action.

The second option, impeachment then conviction, is also tricky because of how much time remains in President Trump’s tenure. With Congress officially ratifying the Electoral College’s votes on January 7 (after 3:00a.m., once the mob violence was calmed) to secure Joe Biden’s victory, Trump’s last day in office will be January 20. There are now fewer than twelve days to impeach, hold a trial, and convict the president (while impeachment is likely, a 2/3 Senate vote to convict is unlikely). This option is more likely than the 25th Amendment, but it would be incredibly difficult to achieve.

If you’re trying to recall how the impeachment process works, I’ve updated my guide to the process: