Texas Congressman Al Green, a Democrat who has long been a critic of President Donald Trump, says he is going to try once again to remove Trump from office through impeachment. Green has tried this before, and even though impeachment is very difficult and rarely successful, he says he believes it is his responsibility to stand up for the country. He says he feels the president is acting like he is above the law and that he does not respect Congress or the balance of power that exists in the U.S. government.
Green argues that Trump often attacks and mocks members of Congress who disagree with him, and that a president should not treat elected representatives that way. According to Green, the president should respect the roles of the House of Representatives and the Senate rather than demanding loyalty from them. Green thinks these actions show that Trump does not truly accept that each branch of government has its own powers and limits.
Although Trump was impeached twice when he was previously in office, he was not removed because the Senate did not vote to convict him. Now that Republicans control the House, most analysts believe that any impeachment effort has almost no chance of succeeding. Even so, the attempt could draw national attention, stir up political conflict, and possibly weaken Trump’s relationships with some members of his own party. It may also raise questions for voters about his behavior and leadership.
During a speech in Congress, Green quoted former Vice President Dick Cheney, a Republican, who once warned that Trump was a danger to the country because of how he tried to overturn the results of the 2020 election. Green says that Trump thinks he can do “whatever he pleases,” including pressuring lawmakers and government officials who refuse to support his demands. Green describes Trump as someone who rules by fear rather than respect, calling him “the intimidator in chief.”
Green also pointed to the January 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol, when Trump supporters violently tried to prevent the certification of his election loss to Joe Biden. He said Trump played a major role in encouraging that chaos and should be held responsible for what happened that day. Green criticized Trump’s later decision to pardon over a thousand people, including some connected to the attack, saying that forgiving them only encourages more dangerous behavior. He even said he worries Trump might refuse to give up power peacefully if the time comes.
Green first promised in November that he would file his impeachment articles before the Christmas holiday break. He said he will push ahead even if others doubt him, and he challenged lawmakers to think about what is right for the country, not just what benefits their political careers. Green has introduced impeachment articles before, arguing that Trump is unfit for the presidency. Another Democratic congressman, Shri Thanedar, also tried to impeach Trump earlier this year on different grounds, including the way Trump has used government departments and how he has handled trade policy.
Some political experts believe that Green’s impeachment efforts are meant to make a statement more than anything else. They say he wants to show that Democrats in Congress are still willing to stand up to Trump, especially with another major election year coming soon. The move may not remove Trump from power, but it could force lawmakers to publicly show whether they support or oppose the president’s actions.
Green portrays himself as a man who refuses to be pressured or controlled. He says his duty is to speak truth to powerful people, even if it causes trouble. He insists that if something is wrong, someone must say so openly, and he is willing to be that voice.
Trump, for his part, has brushed off these impeachment attempts. At a rally earlier this year, he joked about one of the lawmakers behind the effort, saying he had never heard of the man before and asked the crowd, “What did I even do?” He acted as if the whole thing was just another example of unfair attacks against him.
The next step is for Green to officially introduce his impeachment articles in the House of Representatives. Once that happens, lawmakers will have to decide whether to support his effort or reject it. Green says he hopes they will follow their conscience and think about what is best for the future of the country, even if the process is difficult and emotional.
