A petition calling for the impeachment of President Donald Trump has crossed the 100,000-signature mark, drawing new attention online as criticism of the administration continues to intensify.
The petition, organized by the non-partisan group Blackout The System, argues that “every branch of government needs to pursue justice and accountability for this administration’s actions.”
No automatic White House response
Reaching 100,000 signatures does not require any official response.
A petition tool launched during President Barack Obama’s administration—called “We the People”—used a 100,000-signature threshold for a response. The platform became a common outlet for protest during Trump’s first term, but it was taken down after President Joe Biden took office in January 2021.
White House spokeswoman Abigail Jackson dismissed the petition in a statement to Newsweek, calling the number of signatures “minuscule” compared to the 80 million who voted for Trump, adding that signers are “free to express their Trump Derangement Syndrome however they see fit.”
Why it matters
Calls to impeach Trump have grown in recent months, including arguments tied to his comments and threats regarding Greenland. Republican Representative Don Bacon has warned that Trump’s talk of annexing Greenland could spark bipartisan impeachment efforts.
Trump, meanwhile, warned House Republicans earlier in January that he could face impeachment for a third time if Democrats regain control of Congress in November’s midterm elections.
Trump was impeached twice during his first term—first in 2019 over pressure on Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to pursue a corruption investigation into the Biden family ahead of the 2020 election, and again in 2021 over efforts to overturn the 2020 election results and the riot at the U.S. Capitol. The Senate acquitted him both times.
What to know
As of early Wednesday morning, the petition had reached 104,894 signatures.
The petition claims that “greed, corruption, and a lack of accountability in leadership have run rampant,” and argues the administration’s actions “threaten our rights, our democracy, and our future.”
It also accuses Trump of “repeatedly” violating the U.S. Constitution since returning to office in January last year.
The petition lists a series of allegations, including:
- “Attacks on immigrants”
- “Cuts to veterans’ benefits”
- “Undermining of health care systems”
- “Degradation of public schools and education”
- “Reductions in essential food assistance programs”
It also argues that “relentless attacks on women and youth” impacting “access to food, shelter, and education” represent “a direct affront on our society’s conscience.”
On the economy, the petition says conditions are in “shambles,” blaming what it describes as mismanagement and “short-sighted” policies.
“The American people are suffering and can’t afford to be patient any longer,” the petition states, calling for impeachment and urging supporters to “come together… make our voices heard, and… demand the impeachment of Donald Trump.”
What people are saying
White House spokeswoman Abigail Jackson told Newsweek: “80 million Americans sent President Trump to the White House, the number of individuals signing this online petition is minuscule in comparison and they are free to express their Trump Derangement Syndrome however they see fit.”
Carlos Álvarez-Aranyos, founder of American Opposition, which partnered with Blackout The System, previously told Newsweek: “Impeachment, conviction, and removal is the healthiest pathway to ending this nightmare… We need our representatives to wake up and use the tools the founders gave them to save our republic before it’s too late.”
Trump told House Republicans earlier in January: “You gotta win the midterms, because if we don’t win the midterms, it’s just going to be, I mean, they’ll find a reason to impeach me. I’ll get impeached.”
Democratic Representative Al Green, whose second effort to impeach Trump was dismissed by the House in December, said on January 6: “I pledge to you that I will do all that I can, including make efforts to impeach Donald John Trump, for all that he has done to create this stain on the citadel of democracy.”
What happens next
An impeachment push is unlikely to advance in the near term, with Republicans holding majorities in both the House and Senate.
But the political stakes could shift after November’s midterms. Democrats are aiming to regain control of Congress for the final two years of Trump’s presidency—an outcome that could reopen the path to a third impeachment effort in a Democrat-controlled House.
