President Donald Trump and his allies are pushing Congress to pass a resolution that would symbolically expunge his two impeachments from his first term, according to reporting from the Wall Street Journal confirmed by a White House official. The effort marks a renewed attempt to erase what supporters view as politically motivated proceedings.
Trump told the Wall Street Journal the resolution “should be done because I did nothing wrong.” House Speaker Mike Johnson confirmed to the Journal he had spoken with Trump and legal experts about clearing the impeachments, though he did not actively pressure lawmakers to bring a vote, according to reporting.
Rep. Darrell Issa, a California Republican, introduced H.Res.1211 in April 2026 to formally expunge both impeachments from the House record. The measure has attracted 23 co-sponsors, all Republicans, though it has not advanced in the chamber. Any effort to push Congress to act on such a resolution is likely not to happen until after the November midterm elections, the Journal reported.
Trump was impeached twice during his first term. The first impeachment, on December 18, 2019, centered on allegations that he abused his power by pressuring Ukraine to investigate Joe Biden, a political rival. He was acquitted by the Senate in February 2020. The second impeachment followed the January 6, 2021 attack on the U.S. Capitol, when the House accused him of inciting an insurrection. He was again acquitted after leaving office.
Constitutional scholars and legal experts have expressed skepticism about the practical effect of such a resolution. The U.S. Constitution contains no mechanism for reversing or canceling an impeachment once it has occurred. As a result, any congressional resolution would amount largely to a political statement rather than a substantive legal action. Michael Gerhardt, a law professor at the University of North Carolina, told the Journal that expunging Trump’s impeachments is “an absurd idea,” adding that the impeachments are “in the history books” and “Congress doesn’t have this power” to erase them.
The effort risks drawing renewed attention to the very allegations the president would prefer to move past. Political commentator SE Cupp questioned the wisdom of the move on CNN, saying, “What are you thinking? He’s not thinking ahead. All the reasons he was impeached get dredged up again, and we’re all talking about it around a midterm election.” Democratic representatives seized on the argument, with Ted Lieu, who served as one of the House impeachment managers during Trump’s second trial, writing on social media that he would welcome hearings, witnesses, and videos to remind people what happened, and urging every Republican in a swing district to vote on the measure.
Adam Schiff, the California senator who was the lead impeachment manager in Trump’s first trial, dismissed the effort as futile. “There is no expunging the stain of Trump’s two impeachments,” he wrote. “Or avoiding the conclusion that the president cares little about the economic hardships of the American people. His priority is only, ever, Donald Trump.”
White House spokesperson Abigail Jackson defended the proposal, accusing Democrats of pursuing partisan vendettas. “Trump-deranged Democrats have spent years launching phoney attacks against the president and weaponising the government against him,” she said. “It’s no surprise that sane individuals are recognising these sham efforts and are interested in undoing those shameful actions. President Trump remains focused on one thing: doing what’s best for the American people.”
Sources
- The Wall Street Journal — Trump and allies discussing plan to expunge impeachments, Speaker Johnson’s confirmation of discussions with Trump and legal experts.
- The Guardian — Trump pressing Congress to erase impeachments, details of both impeachments and Senate acquittals, expert skepticism on constitutional grounds.
- Forbes — Trump pressuring lawmakers, House Speaker Johnson’s involvement, constitutional scholars’ assessment that expungement lacks legal force.
- Fox News — Rep. Darrell Issa’s introduction of H.Res.1211 in May 2026.
- Congress.gov — H.Res.1211 text and details, introduction date of April 23, 2026.
