Donald Trump has become the third US President in history to be impeached by the House of Representatives, setting up a trial in the Senate that will decide whether he remains in office.

The House voted on two charges – that the President abused his power and that he had obstructed Congress.

Nearly all Democrats voted for the charges and every Republican against.

President Trump’s Republicans control the Senate so it is highly unlikely he will be removed from power.

The White House released a statement saying that the President was confident that he will be fully exonerated in a Senate trial.

Earlier, the House of Representatives where the Democrats are in a majority, held a lengthy debate whether to impeach him on these charges.

The vote for the first article of impeachment, abuse of power, was passed 230-197 and the second, for obstruction of Congress, 229-198.

Andrew Johnson and Bill Clinton were other two former Presidents who had been impeached.