The House voted 230-197 to charge Trump with abuse of power, with just two Democrats in opposition and one voting “present.” The second charge, obstruction of Congress, was approved on a 229-198 vote, with three Democrats breaking ranks and one again voting “present.” All Republicans opposed both articles, underscoring their staunch unity behind the leader of their party.

In a remarkable split-screen, Trump was taking the stage at a rally in Battle Creek, Michigan, as the final votes were cast, basking in the clamorous applause of his most passionate supporters amid the darkest moment of his presidency.

“It doesn’t really feel like we’re being impeached,” Trump said. “The country is doing better than ever before. We did nothing wrong, and we have tremendous support in the Republican Party.”

Democratic leaders cited Trump’s lack of remorse — and, indeed, his alleged ongoing pursuit of a scheme to undermine the integrity of the 2020 presidential election — as evidence that he poses a continuing and unprecedented threat to U.S. national security if permitted to remain in office. That charge far exceeds the gravity of any previous presidential impeachment.

“It is tragic that the president’s reckless actions make impeachment necessary,” Speaker Nancy Pelosi said on the floor of the House. “He gave us no choice.”

House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerry Nadler (D-N.Y.), whose panel drafted and approved the impeachment charges last week, said Trump’s removal from office was urgent and necessary — even as the Republican-controlled Senate is likely to acquit Trump.

“We cannot rely on the next election as a remedy for presidential misconduct when the president threatens the very integrity of that election,” Nadler said. “He has shown us he will continue to put his selfish interests above the good of the country. We must act without delay.”

But in a news conference shortly after the votes late Wednesday night, Pelosi injected new uncertainty into the timeline, suggesting that she would hold off on naming the House’s impeachment managers — the lawmakers who will present the case against Trump during the Senate trial — until Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) commits to a “fair” set of procedures for the trial.

“So far we haven’t seen anything that looks fair to us,” Pelosi said, refusing to commit to ultimately sending the articles to the Senate. Democratic lawmakers and aides noted that a Senate trial cannot begin until the House names its impeachment managers.

Just two Democrats — Reps. Collin Peterson of Minnesota and Jeff Van Drew of New Jersey — broke from their party to oppose the first article of impeachment, while Rep. Jared Golden of Maine opposed only the second article. Hawaii Rep. Tulsi Gabbard voted “present” both times. Van Drew, who had long questioned the impeachment push, has already signaled to colleagues and aides that he intends to switch parties and join the GOP.

Michigan Rep. Justin Amash, an independent, backed both articles. Amash left the Republican Party earlier this year shortly after announcing his support for impeachment, and amid several ideological disagreements with Trump.

Can you believe that I will be impeached today by the Radical Left, Do Nothing Democrats, AND I DID NOTHING WRONG! A terrible Thing. Read the Transcripts. This should never happen to another President again. Say a PRAYER! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 18, 2019

Inside the House chamber, lawmakers dispensed with any pretense of persuasion, accepting early on that the vote was largely predetermined. They instead used the six-hour debate to reiterate well-worn arguments and talk past each other. That changed briefly during one tense moment, after Nadler accused Rep. Louie Gohmert (R-Texas) of spouting Russian propaganda. Gohmert, wagging his finger and confronting Nadler directly, demanded that he retract his words. Gohmert later approached Nadler and continued to harangue him.

When the first article was adopted, several Democrats began applauding and cheering, prompting Pelosi, who was presiding over the vote, to give them a stern look and raise her arm in their direction to warn them against overtly celebrating what she and other Democratic leaders have dubbed a solemn and somber day.

Trump’s impeachment is the culmination of Democrats’ year-long string of Trump-focused investigations overseen by Pelosi, a skilled political tactician who remained reluctant to embrace impeachment until the Ukraine scandal broke open. Even with the charges heading to the Senate for a trial likely to result in an acquittal, House Democrats have vowed to continue their impeachment probes — especially those focused on former special counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 campaign.

The House’s debate showcased the deepening dysfunction that has gripped Washington in the Trump era — in addition to the unflinching loyalty that the president demands, and almost invariably receives, from congressional Republicans. Trump capitalized on his iron grip on the Republican Party’s base to demand that GOP lawmakers describe his conduct as not just acceptable but “perfect.”