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.
- Twice-impeached Donald Trump has threatened to be impeached a third time if Republicans lose control of the House of Representatives in the midterm elections.
- Impeachment is a formal charge that requires a majority vote of the House of Representatives to pass, but it does not necessarily mean the official will be removed from office.
- Some Democrats have proposed an impeachment resolution in 2025, but it has not gained momentum.
President Donald Trump, the only US president to be impeached twice, believes he could be impeached again if Republicans lose the House majority in the midterm elections.
“We have to win the midterm elections,” President Trump told House Republicans at the newly named Trump Kennedy Center on January 6. “If we don’t win the midterm elections, they’ll find a reason to impeach me.”
Mr. Trump has had a whirlwind first year in office, facing numerous legal challenges, and some Democrats are moving to impeach him. But without control of either Congress, these resolutions were always unexpected and never gained traction.
Here’s what you need to know about President Trump’s previous impeachments and efforts to impeach him for a second term.
What does impeachment mean?
Impeachment is similar to indictment. Authorizes formal charges against federal employees accused of committing crimes.
Articles of impeachment must be adopted by a simple majority vote in the House of Representatives before the Senate can hold an impeachment trial. When the president is put on trial, the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court presides over the case.
A defendant can only be removed from office if the Senate votes guilty by a two-thirds majority. In some cases, it may mean they can never hold public office again.
Would Trump have been impeached in 2025 or 2026?
No, but some Democrats have introduced impeachment resolutions that don’t have party-wide support. And given that Republicans control the House and Senate, their chances of success are always slim.
Michigan Democratic Representative Shri Thanedar introduced an impeachment resolution in April 2025, citing “pervasive abuse of power, flagrant constitutional violations, and tyrannical conduct that undermines American democracy and threatens the rule of law.” According to Politico, he chose not to push for a vote at the last minute.
Texas Democratic Rep. Al Green has also introduced multiple impeachment resolutions. The most recent bill, introduced on Dec. 10, was considered by a vote of 237-140, including 23 Democrats who voted to consider it.
How many times has Trump been impeached?
Trump has been impeached twice, but the Senate acquitted him both times.
In December 2019, the House of Representatives voted to impeach Trump on two articles accusing him of abuse of power. bone called on Ukrainian authorities to investigate his political opponents, and another claimed he obstructed a parliamentary inquiry into the matter. In February 2020, the Senate voted to acquit the president, with Sen. Mitt Romney (R-Utah) the only Republican to vote to convict on a bipartisan basis.
In January 2021, the House of Representatives voted to impeach Trump again, charging him with “incitement of insurrection” in connection with the events at the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021. Ten Republicans split ranks and voted with Democrats to impeach Trump. Only two of these 10 members are currently in office, and one of them has said he will not seek re-election in 2026. The remaining members either retired from office or lost the election.
The Senate trial took place after Trump left office, but some Republicans decided it was unnecessary because he was no longer in power. A bipartisan majority of seven Republicans voted to convict, but the 57-43 vote fell short of the two-thirds majority needed for conviction. Because he was acquitted, there was no vote to bar him from ever serving as president again.
Who are the other presidents who have been impeached?
Three presidents were impeached, but all were acquitted after a Senate trial. they were:
Contributions: Jeanine Santucci, Sudiksha Kokuchi, Michael Collins, George Petras, John Fritze, USA 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.
