KEY POINTS

  • Most polls show that the majority of Americans disapprove of President Trump
  • The House of Representatives voted to impeach Trump this week due to his dealings with Ukraine, with the vote mostly falling on party lines
  • The next step in the impeachment process is a trial in the Senate

The latest approval polls come as the House of Representatives has voted to impeach President Trump over his dealings with Ukraine, with most surveys showing that the majority of Americans disapprove of Trump.

A recent Emerson poll shows Trump has a 49% disapproval rating compared to a 46% approval rating. A poll from NBC News/Wall Street Journal had Trump with a 54% disapproval rating and a 44% approval rating, a difference of 10%.

A Reuters/Ipsos poll shows that 53% disapprove of Trump and 45% approve. The right-leaning Rasmussen Reports survey shows that 50% approve of Trump and 48% disapprove.

The House impeachment vote was held Wednesday, with lawmakers voting on two articles of impeachment, abuse of power and obstruction of Congress. Abuse of power refers to Trump’s pressuring of Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky to investigate Hunter Biden, the son of Democratic presidential rival Joe Biden. Obstruction of Congress refers to Trump’s unwillingness to cooperate with the impeachment inquiry and his order for current and former executive officials to ignore subpoenas.

In regards to abuse of power, 230 voted for the charge, with 197 against and one present vote. The obstruction of Congress vote saw 229 representatives in favor and 198 against, along with one present vote.

The vote was conducted on mostly party lines, but with a few exceptions. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard, D-Hawaii, was the lone present vote on both charges. Rep. Justin Amash, I-Mich., a former Republican turned independent, voted to impeach on both articles.

Two Democrats voted against both articles of impeachment.

The next step in the impeachment process would be a trial in the Senate in order to convict and remove Trump from office.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., has said that she would not refer the articles of impeachment to the Senate unless there was a guarantee of a fair trial. Top Senate Republicans, such as Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., have said that they would work closely with the White House during the Senate trial.

The impeachment inquiry began on Sept. 24, after an anonymous whistleblower complaint claimed that Trump had asked for a favor from a foreign leader.

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