Chicagoans react to Trump’s impeachment: ‘It’s historic, but I’m wary’

Chicagoans reacted with mixed feelings to the House of Representatives’ vote Wednesday to impeach President Donald Trump.

While some praised the House’s historic vote, others criticized the outcome, claiming Democrats didn’t have the evidence to justify impeachment.

Several people were waiting for the bus at North Michigan Avenue and East Wacker Drive — across the river from the Trump Tower — when one person got a news alert about the vote’s results and told their friend.

“It’s historic, but I’m wary,” said 21-year-old Ravi Nayak, a student at University of Chicago. “I don’t think Trump will be removed from office, even if he should be.”

Still, Nayak said he was happy to see the vote passed.

“It sets in stone what happened with this presidency,” Nayak said.

Jake Wittich / Sun-Times

Annie Diamond, a 25-year-old woman from Hyde Park, celebrated the impeachment vote and said she was hopeful Trump would be removed from office.

“This is wonderful news, now let’s get him out of here,” Diamond said. “Trump has only been bad for this country and I’m thrilled to see this movement.”

Kevin Cuddy, who lives near the Loop, said he had been following the impeachment debate throughout the day and thought “the House did the right thing.”

“It’s about time. I think Trump has done dozens, if not hundreds, of impeachable things, and finally the case was strong enough,” Cuddy said.

Cuddy said he didn’t expect Trump to be removed from office, but “it will reflect on the Senate Republicans if he’s not.”

Jesus Solorio, treasurer of the Chicago Young Republicans criticized the vote in an emailed statement. He said the House of Representatives “failed to produce any compelling evidence for the impeachment of President Donald Trump.”

“It’s evident that Democrats are doing anything they can to nullify the election results of 2016,” Solorio said. “The fact of the matter is that Americans across the country are tired of partisan acts and want members of Congress to get back to work and stop wasting time and millions of dollars.”

Jake Wittich / Sun-Times

Irene and Bill Stafford were in town from Los Angeles to visit their son in Chicago when they heard the news. They stopped to take a selfie with Trump Tower in the background to mark the occasion.

Bill Stafford said he doesn’t support Trump, but he wasn’t “too thrilled” about the impeachment because he doesn’t think it will change anything.

“The election of Trump brought to the surface all of the racism, hatred and division in this country. Even if he were to be removed from office, that’s all still there,” Stafford said. “He’s the symptom, and impeaching doesn’t solve anything.”

Irene Stafford welcomed the impeachment, but said it was a sad day for the United States.

“Nancy Pelosi and most Democrat women wore black today to mark this, and I really felt the sadness,” Irene Stafford said. “It brought me back to the morning Trump was elected, and I realize we haven’t come very far since then.”