For more than eight hours of heated and polarized exchanges, U.S. lawmakers on Wednesday debated two articles of impeachment against President Donald Trump.

Opposition Democrats in the House of Representatives accuse Trump of abusing the power of his office and of obstructing Congressional efforts to investigate him. 

Namely, they say Trump conditioned vital American military aid to Ukraine, a U.S.-ally at war with Russia, on its new president investigating former U.S. 

Vice President Joe Biden, a front runner to stand against Trump in next year's presidential election.

And, they allege that Trump tried to block their inquiry directing his staff and government agencies to defy subpoenas. Democrats argue Trump's actions should be considered "high crimes and misdemeanors," worthy of impeachment.

Trump "tried to cheat. He got caught. He confessed. And then he obstructed the investigation," Democrat David Cicilline from the U.S. state of Rhode Island said.Republicans defended the president. 

"The American people see through this sad charade for what it is: an attempt to undo the 2016 election based on hearsay and opinion," said Ross Spano, a Republican from Florida.

As the House prepared to vote, Trump jetted to Michigan to rally his base. Before leaving, he insisted once again he had done nothing wrong.

"They took a perfect phone call," Trump said," that I had with the president of Ukraine – an absolutely perfect call, you know – they all know it. 

Nothing was said wrong in that call. To impeach the president of the United States for that is a disgrace and it's a mark on our country."

Trump claims that, in any case, he was acting in the interests of the U.S., not himself.

At the core of the phone call is a section in which Trump told Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, "I would like you to do us a favor, though.”

A trial is expected to begin in the U.S. Senate in January. 

The upper chamber is controlled by Republicans, who remain loyal to the president. It seems unlikely Democrats will secure the two-thirds majority needed to remove Trump from office.