Pete, would you consider it to be a coup if Trump did a clearly illegal action and was impeached and convicted?
That's not how it works, as the other examples I mentioned clearly show. Plenty of US Presidents have done things that could be considered grounds for impeachment. If a majority in a legislature do not want a President impeached and convicted he won't be, no matter how guilty he is.
If they do want to impeach him and have the number for a guilty verdict that is what will happen even if they have to cook the charge up. that's the reality of the world, guilt or innocence will have very little to do with it.
I know that's not how it usually works, if it was a situation of clear guilt he would just resign. However, I feel like a lot of you Trump supporters are ready to fight for him no matter what, even if he breaks the laws.
No the point I'm making is that it doesn't matter whether Presidents break the law or not, that's not a reason Presidents resign. They can be as innocent as the snow (unlikely) and if there is a majority who want to impeach him and enough votes to find him guilty he will be found guilty, a charge will be dreamed up if necessary. then he might resign to avoid impeachment (as Nixon did). He can be guilty as hell and if the votes aren't there for an impeachment or for a guilty verdict then he will serve out his term with no impeachment.
To give a little example and contrast from history
Watergate building in burgled
Result: nothing is taken
Burglers get caught
Nixon finds out and covers it up, claiming executive privilege to do this
Woodward and Bernstein uncover the cover up.
Woodward and Bernstein are proclaimed heroes by the Democrats and the liberal media. Nixon is proclaimed a cheat and a crook by the Democrats and liberal media. Impeachment is planned and Nixon resigns to avoid this.
Thirty years earlier
Communist agents infiltrate the US State Department and other government bodies
Result: Serious secrets are stolen by some agents and given to America's enemies. Other agents successfully work to influence policy in a way that helps the Soviet Union and does severe harm to the free world and the human race as a whole
FBI uncovers and identifies these communist agents
Truman finds out and covers it up, claiming executive privilege to do this
Joe McCarthy uncovers the cover up
Truman is proclaimed a hero and the Democrats start immediate attempts to railroad McCarthy who they and the liberal media proclaim a crook and a liar. This eventually succeeds four years later.
You see what I mean?
This post explains a lot about you.