The ball is in the Senate's court.
After an expeditious vote in the House of Representatives, the American president was struck, Wednesday, January 13, by a second "impeachment", a historic first, one week before the end of his mandate.
Donald Trump was charged with "incitement to insurgency" during the assault on his supporters on Capitol Hill on January 6.
His indictment must now be sent to the Senate, which is responsible for organizing a trial.
Following its first "impeachment", in early 2020, in the Ukrainian case, the Republican-majority Senate acquitted the president, who had thus escaped impeachment.
This time, the outcome of the proceedings is uncertain.
The current senatorial majority boss, Republican Mitch McConnell, has warned that the trial could not be held before the end of Donald Trump's term.
However, after January 20, the day of the inauguration of new president Joe Biden, the majority will change hands in the Senate: the Democrats, who won two key senatorial elections in Georgia on January 5, will therefore be in the process.
Mitch McConnell lets the suspense hover
This does not, however, guarantee a conviction of the Republican president.
Indeed, it takes a two-thirds majority, or 67 senators, to do this.
Democrats will therefore need the collaboration of 17 Republican senators.
This is where things get complicated.
Wednesday in the House of Representatives, only 10 elected Republicans voted for the "impeachment" of Donald Trump.
Mitch McConnell himself was unclear about his intentions.
After suggesting in the press that he was in favor of the indictment of Donald Trump, he indicated that he had not made his decision on a possible conviction during the trial.
"I intend to listen to the legal arguments when they are presented to the Senate," he wrote to his colleagues.
"Impeachment proceedings can continue beyond the term of the accused person"
04:45
Such a condemnation would be symbolic.
Indeed, Donald Trump will have already left the White House and there will be no point in removing him.
However, senators could take a second vote to prevent him from running for a second term.
The condemnation must be approved so that this second vote, by a simple majority this time, can be held?
Experts are divided.
The fact remains that for the Republican Party, in the midst of a crisis following its electoral debacles and the attack on the Capitol, the stakes are high.
Will his future be with or without Trump?
The base, it remains faithful to the billionaire.
According to a CBS News poll, 85% of Republican voters were against the impeachment of Donald Trump and believe that the outgoing president did nothing to deserve impeachment.
Republican Party shows "early signs of post-Trump era"
02:55
Donald Trump keeps a low profile
In the meantime, Donald Trump, who fears legal repercussions once he returns to civilian life, is keeping a low profile.
Without referring to his second "impeachment", he called on the Americans on Thursday night for "unity".
Without admitting his responsibility for the violence of last week, he distanced himself from the attackers who, he said, could not be his "real supporters".
Joe Biden, for his part, praised the impeachment of Donald Trump while appealing to senators: "I hope the Senate finds a way to manage their constitutional responsibilities regarding the impeachment trial, while conducting business. urgent needs of the nation, "he said.
He will indeed need the upper house to confirm the members of his cabinet, vote to revive the economy and continue the plan for the distribution of vaccines against Covid-19.
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