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Trumpeachment: Historic vote due in the coming days

On Wednesday, the US House of Representatives is expected to vote in favour of two articles of impeachment against Donald Trump making him only the third US president to be impeached in the country's history.

It has led to the creation of a new word; "Trumpeached". It has become a twitter hashtag and mugs and t-shirts bearing the slogan are available for purchase online.

Donald Trump is usually eager to have his name on branded merchandise but this particular product line has been inspired by a serious threat to his presidency.

The articles of impeachment, or charges against him, were approved by the US House of Representatives Judiciary Committee on Friday, paving the way for a full vote of the House.

Donald Trump accused Democrats of using impeachment as a political tool
The vote count after members voted on House Resolution 755, articles of impeachment

Donald Trump is accused of abuse of power and obstruction of Congress amid claims he tried to pressure Ukraine into opening an investigation into his political rival Joe Biden.

Speaking to reporters at the White House following Friday's impeachment vote, Mr Trump insisted he did nothing wrong and dismissed the process as a witch hunt, a sham and a hoax.  

He accused Democrats of trivialising impeachment and using it as a political tool, something which he said could come back to haunt them.

"Someday there'll be a Democrat president and there’ll be a Republican House, and I suspect they’re going to remember it," he said.

Donald Trump also claimed that impeachment is helping him politically.

"My poll numbers, as you know, have gone through the roof. Fundraising for the Republican Party has gone through the roof. We're setting records," he said.

It is an exaggeration to say Donald Trump's poll numbers have "gone through the roof", but impeachment doesn't seem to have damaged him.

In recent days a series of polls have shown little movement in the president's approval ratings and the country remains split on whether or not he should be removed from office.

According to a Monmouth University poll released on Wednesday, 50% of those surveyed said the president should not be impeached and removed from office, with 45% calling for impeachment and removal. The numbers are little changed from the same poll last month. 

There is a danger for Democrats that impeaching Donald Trump could backfire on them politically.

It has happened in the past. After Republicans impeached Bill Clinton in 1998 his approval ratings rose.

It is something that is no doubt on the minds of Democrats, particularly vulnerable members of Congress from districts won by Donald Trump who fear they could face a voter backlash when they go for reelection next year.

The White House Press Secretary Stephanie Grisham made reference to this on Tuesday when she issued a statement reacting to the announcement of the articles of impeachment.

"Ultimately, Speaker Pelosi and House Democrats will have to answer to their constituents for manufacturing an impeachment inquiry and forcing unfounded accusations down the throats of the American people," she said.

Nancy Pelosi said the impeachment process is about protecting the constitution

The Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi responded by saying the impeachment process wasn't about politics or elections, it was about protecting the constitution.

But what about when Donald Trump has to answer to his constituents? How will impeachment affect his reelection prospects?

In true Donald Trump form, he has taken this latest challenge and used it as a rallying call to reignite his base.  Expect plenty of references to the "hoax, witch hunt" throughout the 2020 race.

But before the election campaign gets into full swing, Donald Trump is expected to be impeached by the Democrat-controlled House of Representatives in the coming days, setting up a trial in the Republican-controlled Senate in the new year.

It seems highly likely at this stage that the Senate will vote to acquit him.

The Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell told Fox News on Thursday that he will coordinate with the White House on Donald Trump's defence and said there was "zero chance" the president would be removed from office.

"The case is so darn weak coming over from the House. We all know how it's going to end," Senator McConnell said.

Attacking the strength of the charges against him is also a tactic used by Donald Trump.

He told a rally in Pennsylvania on Tuesday that it was "impeachment-light". Perhaps that is the next phrase we'll see making its way on to mugs and t-shirts.