President Trump: If Republicans lose in the midterm elections, they will be impeached
In a lengthy speech to the House Republican training camp on January 6, the president referred to himself as “the king” and twice mentioned reelection.
- President Trump has directed House Republicans to campaign on priorities to maintain control of Congress in the 2026 midterm elections.
- President Trump mentioned canceling the election, but quickly dismissed the idea, anticipating criticism from the media.
- He urged Republicans to win the midterm elections or suggested Democrats would find a reason to impeach him.
President Donald Trump mentioned canceling the election in a wide-ranging speech on January 6, but denied the possibility.
Speaking at the newly named Trump Kennedy Center, he encouraged House Republicans to base their campaigns on priorities to maintain control of Congress in the 2026 midterm elections. He said the Republican Party had “the right policies” and expressed confusion at the negative public opinion about his job performance.
He mentioned tariffs during his speech, saying, “If you get the wrong president, nothing good will happen.”
“We’ve known it for four years…We even have to confront these people because they have the worst policies,” he said. “I don’t say, ‘Cancel the election, we should cancel the election,’ because the fake news says, ‘He wants to cancel the election, he’s a dictator.'” They always call me a dictator. ”
Trump says Republicans need to win to avoid impeachment
Republicans currently hold majorities in both chambers of Congress, but their majority in the House is shrinking due to Georgia Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene’s departure from the party and other Republicans’ unforeseen emergencies.
The president’s party often loses in midterm elections, but President Trump used his speech to try to break that trend. His political future depends on it, he said.
President Trump said, “We have to win the midterm elections.” “If we don’t win the midterm elections, they’ll find a reason to impeach me.”
Trump was impeached twice by House Democrats during his first term, and the Senate acquitted him both times.
Who will vote in the midterm elections?
On November 3, 2026, all members of the House of Representatives and one-third of the Senate will be up for re-election, as well as various local and state elections. That means any eligible American citizen can vote in the midterm elections.
Midterm elections typically have lower turnout than presidential election years. However, according to Census Bureau data, turnout jumped to 53.4% in 2018, the midterm election of President Trump’s first term. Voter turnout in 2022 was 52.2%. Compare these to the 2020 presidential election, which was a record year with 66.8% turnout.
Older voters are more likely to vote in non-presidential years and more likely to vote Republican, according to Reuters. In the 2018 and 2022 midterm elections, white voters and voters with college degrees made up a larger share of voters than non-voters, according to the Pew Research Center.
Contributions: Bart Jansen, Zachary Schermele, america today
Kinsey Crowley is a Trump Connect reporter for the USA TODAY Network. Please contact KCrowley@usatodayco.com. follow her X (Twitter), blue sky and TikTok.
