The claim: 'The U.S. Senate cannot convict a former President' Former President Donald Trump is staring down his second impeachment trial in as many years, but uncertainty looms over the unprecedented proceedings. That’s because despite 245 years of history and 21 past impeachments by the U.S. House, the country has no direct precedent for an impeachment trial of a president who has left office. The House impeached Trump on Jan. 13 for his role inciting the Capitol mob on Jan. 6. A trial is set to begin Feb. 8 in the U.S. Senate, but Trump has since departed the White House, having lost the 2020 election to Joe Biden.