A Texas Democrat announced plans to file articles of impeachment against President Donald Trump over comments made during a meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu regarding the Gaza Strip, marking the congressman’s fifth attempt to impeach Trump since 2017.
On Wednesday, February 5, 2025, U.S. Representative Al Green (D-TX) from Houston declared his intentions, citing Trump’s proposal to take ownership of the Gaza Strip and resettle Palestinians elsewhere as “ethnic cleansing.” Green, who represents Texas’ 9th congressional district, has been one of Trump’s most vocal critics in Congress since Trump’s first presidential term.
“Ethnic cleansing in Gaza is not a joke, especially when it emanates from the President of the United States, the most powerful person in the world,” Green stated during his announcement. The congressman argued that Trump’s statement constitutes a crime against humanity and demands immediate congressional action. Green further emphasized that “injustice in Gaza is a threat to justice in the United States.”
Green’s latest impeachment effort comes as one of the fastest attempts against a U.S. president after taking office. The congressman has previously led multiple unsuccessful impeachment campaigns against Trump since 2017, including co-leading the second impeachment attempt following the January 6, 2021 U.S. Capitol riot. His first impeachment push came in 2017, making him the first member of Congress to seek Trump’s removal from office formally. That initial effort received support from 58 House Democrats.
House Speaker Mike Johnson defended Trump’s Gaza proposal as “bold, decisive action” to ensure regional peace. Democratic leadership, including House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, has not backed Green’s impeachment push, with Representative Pete Aguilar stating that impeachment is not a focus of the caucus. This lack of support from party leadership mirrors previous responses to Green’s impeachment efforts, which have consistently failed to gain widespread Democratic support.
Green, who serves on the House Financial Services Committee and is the ranking member of the Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations, has built his congressional career around corporate accountability and consumer protection efforts. His work has focused mainly on closing economic disparities and promoting financial fairness. His previous attempts at impeachment included charges related to Trump’s defense of white nationalists after the Charlottesville rally and criticism of NFL players kneeling during the national anthem.
“The people have to demand it, and when they demand it, it will be done,” Green declared, emphasizing his vision for a grassroots-led impeachment movement. The congressman has consistently maintained that public demand rather than political calculations should drive impeachment. Green stated that “the people have got to move forward” for impeachment to succeed.
The impeachment articles face significant obstacles in the Republican-controlled House, where the GOP holds a slim majority. Green’s previous impeachment attempts have shown some support among Democrats, with his third attempt in July 2019 receiving 95 votes, up from the initial 58 in December 2017. Other Democratic lawmakers have joined Green in criticizing Trump’s Gaza comments, though they’ve stopped short of supporting impeachment. Republican representatives have offered varying responses, some supporting Trump’s proposal as a regional security solution while others dismiss it entirely.
Green’s persistence in pursuing impeachment has drawn both praise and criticism from within his party. During previous attempts, some Democrats argued that his actions could politically backfire, particularly when he stated, “I’m concerned if we don’t impeach this president, he will get re-elected.” Republicans later used this comment to question the legitimacy of subsequent impeachment proceedings. Critics within the Democratic Party have suggested that repeated impeachment attempts might diminish the significance of the process and potentially alienate moderate voters.
The congressman’s latest impeachment effort coincides with broader Democratic concerns about Trump’s foreign policy statements. Green’s focus on the Gaza Strip proposal reflects a growing debate within Congress about U.S. involvement in Middle East policy. While some lawmakers view Trump’s suggestion as a potential solution to regional conflicts, others, like Green, see it as a dangerous proposition that could escalate tensions and violate international law.
