More Americans Want Trump Convicted At Second Impeachment Trial Than First, Poll Finds

Topline

A slim majority of Americans want their senators to vote to convict Donald Trump at the impeachment trial beginning this week, according to a new Gallup poll, which finds there is more public support for the former president’s conviction at his second impeachment trial than at his first. 

U.S. President Donald Trump holds a copy of The Washington Post as he speaks in the East Room of the … [+] White House one day after the U.S. Senate acquitted on two articles of impeachment, ion February 6, 2020 in Washington, DC.

Getty Images Key Facts

Just over half (52%) of the respondents of the poll released Monday said they wanted their senators to vote to convict Trump for “inciting an insurrection” at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6.

Enthusiasm is particularly high among Democrats and Democratic-leaning independents, with 89% in support of conviction and 7% in opposition. 

Among Republicans and Republican-leaning independents, just 10% said they favor convicting Trump, while 88% currently oppose the former president’s conviction. 

Gallup notes that it conducted similar polling in the run-up to Trump’s first impeachment trial in January 2020, after the then-president was impeached for withholding aid from Ukraine to allegedly secure a political favor and for obstructing an investigation into the matter. 

There was less support for Trump’s conviction at that point, with 46% saying they favored conviction and 51% saying they did not. 

Democrats and Democratic-leaning independents are more supportive of his conviction in 2021 than in 2020—when 81% favored conviction and 17% opposed it—while Republicans’ opinions held steady between both trials. 

Surprising Fact 

Bill Clinton, the only other post-war president to be impeached, had significantly less support from the public for his conviction, Gallup noted. At the beginning of Clinton’s senate trial, just 32% said they wanted their senators to vote to convict and remove him from office, while 63% of respondents said they favored acquittal. 

Key Background 

It does not appear that Democrats have the votes to convict Trump. Just 10 Republicans voted to impeach him during the House vote in January, and those who did—including Rep. Liz Cheney (Wy), the chamber’s third-ranking leader—have faced significant blowback within the party. Forty-five Republican senators voted in support of a motion that would’ve dismissed the second impeachment trial in late January, while just five voted with Democrats. 

Further Reading

“Republicans Shift Blame To Pelosi, Schumer As They Blast Impeachment Trial As ‘Partisan Farce’” (Forbes)

“Nearly 400 Congressional Staffers Urge Senate To Convict Trump Over Capitol Attack” (Forbes)