The U.S. Democrat-led House of Representatives on Wednesday approved both articles of impeachment against U.S. President Donald Trump, making him the third president in U.S. history to be formally impeached and face a trial in the Senate. 

By a 230 to 197 vote, the U.S. House passed the first article that accused President Trump of abuse of power. They also approved the second article of impeachment that charges the Republican president with obstructing Congress by refusing to cooperate with the impeachment investigation.  

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Backgrounder: U.S. Democrat-led House impeachment process against Trump

House Democrats have enough votes to impeach Trump, according to a Post analysis

Trump will now stand trial in the Senate, where his Republicans hold a solid majority and are expected to exonerate him. 

Despite testimony from 17 officials that Trump leveraged his office for political gain, the president maintained his innocence throughout the impeachment inquiry – denouncing it as a "witch hunt," an "attempted coup" and an "assault on America." 

Democrats: Trump is a threat to national security 

But despite the high likelihood of Trump being cleared by Senate Republicans, Democrats said the evidence against him was overwhelming and forced them to act. 

"It is tragic that the president's reckless actions make impeachment necessary. He gave us no choice," said House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.  

"It is a matter of fact that the president is an ongoing threat to our national security and the integrity of our elections."   

Trump: Democrats are consumed with hatred 

Trump railed against a Democratic Party "consumed with hatred" after he was impeached Wednesday for abuse of power and obstructing Congress.   

"While we're creating jobs and fighting for Michigan, the radical Left in Congress is consumed with envy and hatred and rage, you see what's going on," the Republican leader seethed at campaign rally in the state. "These people are crazy."   

Trump said the Democratic Party, which controls the House of Representatives where the votes took place, was "trying to nullify the ballots of tens of millions of patriotic Americans." 

White House: Senate will exonerate Trump 

The White House said on Wednesday it was confident the U.S. Senate would exonerate President Trump in a trial after the House of Representatives voted to impeach him for abusing his power and obstructing Congress. 

"Today marks the culmination in the House of one of the most shameful political episodes in the history of our nation. Without receiving a single Republican vote, and without providing any proof of wrongdoing, Democrats pushed illegitimate articles of impeachment against the president through the House of Representatives," White House spokeswoman Stephanie Grisham said in a statement. 

"The president is confident the Senate will restore regular order, fairness, and due process, all of which were ignored in the House proceedings. He is prepared for the next steps and confident that he will be fully exonerated," she said. 

(With input from agencies)