Donald Trump may be expelled from SAG-AFTRA following special session by the union

The actions by soon-to-be-former President Donald Trump have created a ripple effect since his Washington DC rally that resulted in the Capitol siege. Trump is already set to face a number of legal challenges in court, but the latest reports reveal that he may also face expulsion from SAG-AFTRA.

Trump may be expelled from the SAG-AFTRA union, as the organization’s national board of leaders will meet in a special session to deliberate on possible disciplinary action towards the outgoing president. Trump has been a member of both SAG and AFTRA since 1989, the organizations since merging by 2012. This move comes from Article XIV of the SAG-AFTRA Constitution, which stipulates that a member may be removed for getting involved in actions “antagonistic to the interests or the integrity of the union.”

Expulsion from the union also requires a two-thirds vote from the national board. The meeting that takes place on Tuesday is only the start of the deliberation process and may take weeks to conclude. It also includes a hearing on the possible charges Trump may face in front of the union. The union is also a non-partisan organization and does not endorse nor donate to political parties or candidates.

However, SAG-AFTRA has also criticized Trump for labeling the media as the “enemy of the people.” The Capitol riots became the deciding factor for the board of directors to meet. The union also condemned the violence that occurred when mobs of Trump-supporting rioters stormed the Capitol in the midst of the joint session where lawmakers formally count the electoral votes.

Trump has refused to take responsibility for the riots and has defended his remarks during the rally that occurred hours prior to the siege. With the House impeaching him twice, he is now facing another trial at the Senate which could occur even after he has left the White House. With votes of impeaching being a bipartisan one, more Republicans are now speaking out including Republican Senate leader Mitch McConnell, who condemned Trump during a speech.

“The mob was fed lies. They were provoked by the president and other powerful people,” said McConnell, who will be demoted to Senate Minority Leader when vice president-elect Kamala Harris takes office, and incoming Democratic senators Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock is sworn in. “And they tried to use fear and violence to stop a specific proceeding of the first branch of the federal government which they did not like.”