House Democrats Renew Push for Trump Impeachment Amid Escalating Tensions, But No New Articles Filed

WASHINGTON, Jan. 20, 2026 — As President Donald J. Trump contends with a cascade of foreign policy crises, including the standoff over Greenland and the U.S. intervention in Venezuela, Democratic lawmakers have amplified calls for his impeachment, pointing to resolutions introduced last year that outline a litany of alleged abuses of power. However, no new articles of impeachment have been filed in the past 24 hours, contrary to viral social media claims suggesting an imminent escalation.

The focal point of these efforts remains H. Res. 353, a measure introduced on April 28, 2025, by Representative Shri Thanedar, Democrat of Michigan, which sets forth seven articles of impeachment against Mr. Trump. The resolution accuses the president of high crimes and misdemeanors, including obstruction of justice, usurpation of congressional appropriations power, abuse of trade powers and international aggression, violation of First Amendment rights, creation of an unlawful office, bribery and corruption, and tyranny. Co-sponsored by Representatives Kweisi Mfume of Maryland and Jerrold Nadler of New York, the bill was referred to the House Judiciary Committee, where it has seen no further action.

Online narratives, including posts on platforms like X (formerly Twitter) and Facebook, have exaggerated the timeline, framing the 2025 resolution as a fresh development with headlines such as “Trump FACES JAIL as Congress DROPS 7 Impeachment Articles.” These claims, which have circulated widely in the past day, appear to stem from renewed discussions among Democrats amid Mr. Trump’s recent actions, but they do not reflect any new congressional filings.

Representative Al Green, Democrat of Texas, who has a history of pushing impeachment measures against Mr. Trump, has been vocal in recent weeks. In December 2025, Mr. Green forced a vote on a separate resolution with two articles accusing the president of abusing power by threatening lawmakers and intimidating judges, though it was tabled by a bipartisan majority. On social media, lawmakers like Representative Melanie Stansbury, Democrat of New Mexico, have urged action, calling Mr. Trump “unhinged” in response to his Greenland rhetoric. Similarly, progressive voices have echoed demands for impeachment proceedings, with some suggesting Republicans might defect if tensions escalate further.

Mr. Trump, who was impeached twice during his first term — in 2019 over Ukraine-related matters and in 2021 for incitement of insurrection following the Jan. 6 Capitol attack — has dismissed the latest talk as a “witch hunt.” At a Republican retreat on Jan. 6, he warned party members that losing the House in the November midterms could lead to his third impeachment. With Republicans holding a slim majority, any impeachment vote would face long odds, requiring a simple majority in the House but a two-thirds supermajority in the Senate for conviction and removal.

Legal experts emphasize that impeachment is a political process and does not directly result in jail time. Parallel criminal investigations, including those related to the 2020 election and classified documents, were dismissed by Attorney General Pam Bondi upon Mr. Trump’s inauguration, citing Justice Department policy against prosecuting a sitting president. Former special counsel Jack Smith, in a recent congressional deposition, defended his probes, stating he had “proof beyond a reasonable doubt” of wrongdoing but resigned after the election.

The surge in online speculation coincides with broader partisan friction, including protests planned at congressional offices and calls from figures like Representative Lauren Underwood, Democrat of Illinois, who criticized Mr. Trump’s domestic priorities. Analysts suggest these narratives may intensify as midterms approach, framing the elections as a referendum on Mr. Trump’s fitness for office.

The White House referred inquiries to ongoing statements denying wrongdoing. Democratic leadership, including Speaker Hakeem Jeffries, has not signaled immediate plans to advance existing resolutions, focusing instead on legislative priorities and electoral strategy.

As misinformation spreads rapidly on social media, fact-checkers have flagged the viral claims as misleading, rooted in older resolutions rather than new developments. The situation underscores the challenges of navigating political discourse in a polarized environment, where historical actions are often repurposed to fuel current debates.