The American Constitution
The American Constitution in the Eye of the Storm: Trump’s Impeachment Prospects, Nixon’s Legacy, and the Reality of the War with Iran.
By:
Yayasan Pendidikan Indonesia
Special Consultative Status in ECOSOC
United Nations.
Introduction.
Understanding Global Democracy for Indonesia’s Young Generation
Jakarta, 23 April 2026 — As millions of American citizens took to the streets in the “No Kings” protests — recorded as the largest single-day demonstration in modern U.S. history — the world witnessed a valuable lesson in the power of the Constitution. More than 8 million people marched in 3,300 locations across all 50 states, demanding accountability for President Donald Trump’s policies, including the ongoing war with Iran.
Amid this wave of protests, Virginia has just become the “beginning of defeat” for the Republicans: the Democratic victory in the 2025 state elections and the narrowly passed redistricting referendum on 21 April 2026 have opened the way for Democrats to redraw the congressional district map in a way that is highly advantageous to them (potentially a 10-1 advantage).
Does this signal that the Democratic Party can finally bring down Trump through impeachment? Let us examine this together through the lens of the actual American Constitution, including the valuable lessons from the case of President Richard Nixon.
The Impeachment Mechanism in the U.S. Constitution: A Smart Design of Checks and Balances.
The Constitution of the United States, drafted by the Founding Fathers in 1787, deliberately created a system that makes it difficult to remove a sitting president. Articles I and II establish two distinct stages:
1. The House of Representatives has the exclusive power to impeach (formally accuse) the president. This requires only a simple majority (50% + 1 vote).
2. The Senate then conducts a trial, acting as a court. To convict and remove the president from office, a two-thirds majority of Senators is required.
To date, no American president has ever been successfully removed from office through impeachment. Andrew Johnson (1868), Bill Clinton (1998), and Donald Trump (2019 and 2021) were all impeached by the House, but the Senate acquitted them in every case.
Lessons from Richard Nixon: Resignation, Not Formal Impeachment
Many people ask whether the fall of President Richard Nixon counts as an impeachment in the historical record. The answer is no — not formally.
During the Watergate scandal (1972–1974), the House Judiciary Committee approved three articles of impeachment against Nixon on charges of obstruction of justice, abuse of power, and contempt of Congress. However, Nixon resigned on 9 August 1974 before the full House could vote on the articles. He became the first and only American president to resign from office. Because the impeachment process was never completed in the House, Nixon was never officially impeached.
Nevertheless, intense public pressure, the collapse of bipartisan support in Congress, and the “smoking gun” evidence from the Oval Office recordings forced Nixon to step down to avoid almost certain removal. His case remains the classic example of how the Constitution works: not only through formal votes, but also through unbearable moral and political pressure.
Current American Reality: War with Iran, Mass Protests, and an Increasingly Blue Virginia.
2026 has become the most difficult year for Trump since his return to the White House. The war with Iran that erupted in late February 2026 has caused loss of life, trillions of dollars in costs, disruption of global energy supplies through the Strait of Hormuz, and sharp rises in oil prices and inflation.
The situation continues under an indefinitely extended ceasefire declared by Trump, while both sides claim their own successes — the U.S. in conventional warfare and Iran through asymmetric resistance. Many analysts note inconsistencies in the narratives and actions that have complicated the situation, sparking widespread international debate about the outcome of this war.
Compounded by a series of controversial immigration and economic policies, the “No Kings” protest wave exploded. More than 8 million demonstrators in a single day — a number that even surpassed the 1963 March on Washington. Trump’s approval rating has fallen to the lowest level of his entire career. Many analysts describe him as the president with the worst public perception among large segments of the American people, although such assessments remain subjective and will ultimately be judged by history.
The strongest signal has come from Virginia. The Economist (April 2026) made a clear prediction:
“It is highly likely that the Republican Party will lose the House of Representatives in this year’s midterms, and possibly the Senate as well. That defeat would be a disaster for Donald Trump.”
Will Trump’s Third Impeachment Succeed?.
If Democrats gain control of the House after the November 2026 midterms (a very high probability according to The Economist forecasts), they will almost certainly launch a third impeachment against Trump. The process could begin as early as January 2027.
However, to actually remove Trump, Democrats would need 67 votes in the Senate — a very difficult threshold to reach. Even if they win a Senate majority (with roughly 46-47% odds), a third impeachment would most likely end like the previous two: formal charges from the House, but Trump remaining in office. The political impact would still be enormous — Trump’s agenda would be paralyzed, and his image further damaged, similar to the pressure Nixon faced.
Lessons for Indonesia and the Young Generation.
For us in Indonesia, the stories of Nixon, Trump, the American Constitution, and the dynamics of the war with Iran offer real-life lessons about the strength of checks and balances as well as the fragility of leadership in times of crisis.
Democracy is not about one person or one party, but about rules designed to ensure no one becomes too powerful. Even if a president is elected, the Constitution still provides space for the people and their representatives to demand accountability — whether through impeachment or irresistible public pressure that forces resignation.
Recent developments, including Europe and NATO maintaining greater distance and not becoming fully involved in the conflict, remind us that international alliances are dynamic and driven by each party’s own interests.
For developing countries, including Arab and Muslim nations, this is a moment to strengthen internal cooperation, pursue independent diplomacy, and build collective resilience — not as a confrontational “alternative axis,” but as positive contributors to a more just and peaceful multipolar world order.
Yayasan Pendidikan Indonesia calls on Indonesia’s young generation to continue studying our own Constitution — the 1945 UUD — and universal democratic values. Because in the midst of global political storms, only nations with solid constitutional foundations will survive and thrive.
Based on the facts and narrative above, Yayasan Pendidikan .
Indonesia remains convinced that Indonesia can play an active role in creating world peace — not through a vague “board of peace,” nor through active participation as a mediator in the now totally failed U.S.-Iran war. Instead, it should be through the Prabowo Initiatives, which have a more focused yet increasingly broad target: initiating and developing the defense capabilities of Arab-Islamic countries within the OIC, transforming them into a formidable global force. Is this possible?
• President #PrabowoSubianto is highly capable, and in the near future he has already demonstrated his skills in diplomatic approaches to the world.
• Indonesia also possesses valuable experience in building world peace:
1. President Soekarno, through the Asian-African Conference (KAA), successfully motivated Asian and African nations toward independence.
2. President Suharto successfully eased tensions in southern Philippines through his courteous approach, which won the heart of Nur Misuari. The key actor in this effort was my friend, General Kivlan Zein (during his tour of duty).
3. President Joko Widodo successfully contributed to peace in Afghanistan, with Vice President Yusuf Kalla’s involvement in his capacity during his tour of duty.
Conclusion.
Let us monitor developments together. November 2026 will be the real test for the American Constitution. Will its “checks and balances” still function effectively? And will the controversial narratives from America’s two main democratic pillars become valuable lessons in democracy for the world?
From the facts and narrative above, one conclusion emerges: the world still needs multi-party systems to safeguard democracy, and the international community no longer needs to regard America as the sole idol of democracy.
President Prabowo’s steps have been highly appropriate in the international geopolitical arena. By positioning Indonesia as a neutral party, yet based on evolving realities, the goal must be to restore Indonesia’s dignity and global standing — as previous leaders once did — while this time making Arab and Islamic nations a new axis of world power.
