And with those opening remarks, history begins.

The Senate trial of Donald J.

Trump kicked off on Tuesday.

He's the first president to ever be impeached twice and the Onley former president to face a Senate trial.

Trump is charged with inciting the deadly insurrection at the US Capitol last month that sent the very lawmakers who will judge his guilt or innocents fleeing for safety.

Lead House impeachment manager Democratic lawmaker Jamie Raskin immediately set the tone.

You will not be hearing extended lectures for me because our case is based on cold, hard fax, fax Rask and then tried to illustrate using 13 minutes of dramatic video now, including snippets of Trump's speech on January 6th.

Because you'll never take back our country with weakness, you have to show strength and you have to be strong.

And a video montage showing Trump supporters storming the Capitol and clashing with police, all in an effort to draw a direct connection between Trump's words and his supporters rampage on the capital.

Trump's lawyers and most Republican senators have challenged the constitutionality of the trial.

They have said the Senate does not have the authority to hear the case because Trump has already left office and cannot be removed.

Democrats argue that would set a dangerous precedent.

Their argument is that if you commit an impeachable offenses in your last few weeks in office, you do it with constitutional impunity.

You get away with it.

The January exception is an invitation to our founders.

Worst nightmare.

Trump's defense lawyer, Bruce Castor, fired back.

President Trump no longer is in office.

The object of the Constitution has been achieved.

He was removed by the voters.

A two thirds majority of the 100 member Senate would have to support the charge to convict Trump, meaning 17 Republicans.

We need to join all 50 Democrats and backing it.