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Despite how one may think I will argue (based on the format of this article), I stand strong in the belief that President Trump should not be impeached. Although he has committed actions worthy of this lengthy legal process, with the 2020 Presidential, Senate, and House Election fast approaching, it is in the best interest of House Democrats to not vote for an impeachment inquiry. In general, only a small minority of Americans will fully educate themselves about all the issues at hand when voting for a Presidential candidate. For the rest of the eligible voters who actually make it to the polls (according to the United States Census Bureau, only 53% of voting age citizens voted in the 2018 Midterm elections, a disturbingly low number, even though this is the highest it has been in four decades), their perception of the economy and how the current administration’s policies are affecting them will be the major determining factors in who they give their vote. In this way, it would be foolish for the Democrats to pursue a legal battle  that doesn’t have a substantial impact on the average American. It would be hard to convince your “Average Joe” that he and his family would have better opportunities upon President’s Trump’s removal from office. This is especially so for Democrats, as they will take issue with Vice President Mike Pence’s political ideas (Pence would assume the role of President in the event of Trump being removed from office). Therefore the Democrats should avoid wasting their energy on an impeachment inquiry, and instead focus on “kitchen counter” issues that matter to the general population. Issues that include health care, employment opportunities, and the perpetuating gun control debate. Nonetheless, this reasoning should not be confused for a denial of Donald Trump’s wrongdoings, nor sympathizing with the President and his supporters. What Donald Trump did was wrong and if the political climate were different, an impeachment inquiry would be the right option. 

There are several arguments in support of an impeachment inquiry (pretending that it would be the wise decision). According to the Whistleblower, the President of the United States of America contacted a foreign entity (President Volodymyr Zelensky of the Ukraine), asking for assistance in uncovering “dirt” surrounding Democratic Presidential Candidate and former US Vice President Joe Biden and his son’s dealings with the Ukraine. If this doesn’t immediately raise red flags, there is something wrong. Not to mention, shortly after the Whistleblower released this information, Donald Trump publicly encouraged China to do what he had asked the Ukraine to do. Whether this was a joke or not is besides the point, but regardless, it indicates two things: one, if it was in fact mockery of the whole situation, it suggests that President Trump takes national security lightly (of all countries to make these comments to, China is a nation driven by fierce competition with the US and has been known to have stolen US Intellectual Property) and hasn’t learned his lesson; and two, if Donald Trump was seriously inciting Chinese intervention in a democratic process, it implies that the President is unaware of the severity of his actions and is not fit to lead this country. It is so interesting to think that just as the country was beginning to move past the Mueller Report and the varying interpretations of evidence that may have indicated obstruction of justice and possible Russian interference in the 2016 Presidential election, President Trump decided to do exactly what had started the Mueller Investigation: contacting a foreign entity relating to an election. There is no doubt that Donald Trump views himself as above the law.

A common reason given by those who feel that Donald Trump has done nothing wrong is that Joe Biden may have used his power and influence to obtain an Executive Position in a Ukrainian Company for his son, Hunter. Although there is much debate about the nature of this affair and who is at fault and the amount varies depending on the source consulted, this incident should not be used as a justification for Trump’s actions. If Donald Trump was confident that the Biden’s participated in corporate malpractice in the Ukraine, he should have contacted the appropriate authorities rather than the leader of another country.

At the end of the day, it’s important to remember the following: this is not the first occasion on which President Trump has put personal interests ahead of national security and shown an incompetence and lack respect for the office. It doesn’t matter whether an impeachment inquiry is a smart political path for the Democrats to take. Between possible obstructions of justice, “fishy” ties to Russia (and the infamous meeting in Trump Tower), Donald Trump has shown countless times that he is not fit to be President of the United States.