While the United Kingdom undergoes a shocking turn of events with Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s departure from the royal family, America is currently dangling precariously over the abyss because of its royal rumble: impeachment of a president. Only the third president to be impeached in U.S. history, President Donald J. Trump finds his presidency at risk. The House lead by Speaker Nancy Pelosi has impeached President Trump on charges of abuse of power and obstruction of congress.

However, before either political party can declare a state of ecstasy or anger, impeachment does not necessarily spell the exile of a President; it’s more of an accusation. Nonetheless, impeachment is like gum on one’s shoe: no matter what you do, you’re not getting rid of it.

Many Americans today do not understand the full gravity of the disheartening the country’s situation. The warlike party lines of the Democrats and Republicans show no signs of healing, and further scarring may be ahead. Some would define Pelosi’s impeachment endeavors as a presumptuous attempt designed to favor the Democratic party and eviscerate any prospect of another Republican victory in 2020.

Yet there is ample evidence corroborating that President Trump abused his power by establishing a quid pro quo with Ukraine in exchange for sensitive information on the Biden camp.

Concerning scrupulousness, Pelosi said she believes that it was her duty to summon for articles of impeachment. She thought she was defending the very fabric of the American constitution from election interference. However, it was not wise of Pelosi to continue the inquiry, especially so close to the 2020 election, where the number of democratic contenders has increased with the progression of time. Because of the impeachment inquiry, 2020 will be a pivotal year for American politics — it will be a warzone between Democrats and Republicans.

If the Senate has its way, and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell stays true to his intent on keeping proceedings short, Donald Trump will not be convicted. He will be exonerated in the eyes of Republicans and a substantial amount of American voters, meaning Republicans may win this laborious game of chess while Democrats suffer another scathing defeat.

If not convicted, Trump will enlarge his repertoire of Democrat bashing by boasting his “exoneration.” In doing so, he would be given the right to say that he was irrefutably correct. Pelosi’s impeachment inquiry was nothing more than a “sham” designed to divide the country rather than tend to the needs of Americans who are suffering because of Democrats’ lackluster approach to public policy. This would serve as the guillotine responsible for the execution of not only the reputation of the Democratic party heading into the 2020 election, but it would also play into the hands of Trump and virtually certify him another term.

What I have described may sound like a dystopia to some Americans or a utopia to others. However, there is no way to tell which way the political pendulum will swing with regard to Trump’s impeachment, as everything is contingent on the outcome. America may even witness a 2020 paradigm shift with not only the impeachment of Trump but the total and complete ousting of President Trump altogether.

One thing is assured: The United States of America will never be the same because of such a deep political wound. The precedent of our elections will never be what it once was as a result of this impeachment inquiry, regardless of who “wins.” No matter who wins, America will still lose. The principles on which our aesthetic-obsessed country was founded will be disregarded over what seems more like a political “turf war” than a united front meant to protect the interests of American citizens.

As this relates to the prospect of President Trump’s reelection in 2020, with the reality of a predominantly Republican Senate, I believe that Trump’s reelection chances will not be compromised, but bolstered as Republicans seem lax in terms of Trump’s conviction. Trump will likely use it as somewhat of a political steroid to provide him with the momentum he needs to secure a victory in 2020.

Whether you’re a Democrat or a Republican, we should all be able to arrive at a consensus that we want our elections the way they were initially envisioned to be: in the hands of the American populace. An impeachment proceeding should not get to pick the next president, and neither should Russia. American citizens are the cog that moves the political machine concerning elections, and it is disheartening to see that we, as an American society, have been deprived of an inalienable right that our founding fathers established for us.

United we stand, divided we fall. As the country becomes more divided, I can feel the legs of our democracy weaken. The only crutch to keep us standing in the hope for freedom in elections, now and forever into the future.