The Chief Justice of the United States presides over the Senate trial when the President of the U.S. is impeached.

Quick Scoop

  • The Constitution says that when the president is on trial in the Senate for impeachment, the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court must preside.
  • This rule exists so the vice president (who normally presides over the Senate) cannot run the trial of a president whose removal could place the vice president into the presidency.

So, to answer directly: when the president of the U.S. is tried for impeachment, the Chief Justice of the United States presides at the trial.

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