Posted by Samuel on Wed 07th Jan, 2026 - tori.ng
The president cautioned that losing control of Congress would stall his legislative agenda and expose his administration to investigations, urging lawmakers to put aside internal disagreements and focus on winning elections.
US President Donald Trump has cautioned that Republicans must secure victories in the 2026 congressional midterm elections or face the possibility of renewed impeachment efforts by Democrats.
Trump made the remarks on Tuesday while addressing Republican lawmakers at a party retreat in Washington.
“You gotta win the midterms ’cause if we don’t win the midterms, it’s just gonna be, I mean, they’ll find a reason to impeach me,” Trump said. “I’ll get impeached.”
The president cautioned that losing control of Congress would stall his legislative agenda and expose his administration to investigations, urging lawmakers to put aside internal disagreements and focus on winning elections.
Republicans currently hold a narrow majority in the United States House of Representatives, a reality Trump said limits the authority of Speaker Mike Johnson.
“You can’t be tough when you have a majority of three,” he said.
Trump called on party members to sell Republican policies on gender issues, healthcare and election integrity to voters struggling with the cost of living, while acknowledging that incumbent presidents often lose seats in midterm elections.
“They say that when you win the presidency, you lose the midterms,” he said. “I wish you could explain to me what the hell’s going on with the mind of the public.”
He made only a brief reference to inflation, blaming Democrats for the problem, and urged Republicans to campaign on gains in the US stock market.
Trump also downplayed the January 6, 2021, attack on the US Capitol by his supporters, as Democrats marked the fifth anniversary of the riot and accused Republicans of attempting to “whitewash” history.
The retreat was held at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, which Trump claimed had recently been renamed to include his name following changes to its board.
In an unscripted speech lasting more than an hour, Trump repeated claims disputed by official records, including assertions that Washington had recorded no homicides for months. He predicted Republicans would deliver an “epic midterm victory.”
Trump also complained about party members he described as unwilling to fall in line and urged conservatives to show flexibility on issues such as healthcare subsidies linked to Obamacare and the Hyde Amendment, which restricts federal funding for abortion.
“All of these issues are very important issues, but you can own healthcare,” he told lawmakers. “Figure it out.”
Every seat in the House of Representatives and one-third of the Senate will be contested in November 2026. No sitting US president has avoided losing House seats in the midterms since George W. Bush in 2006.
Trump was impeached twice during his first term but was acquitted by the Senate on both occasions.
“I got impeached twice on nothing,” he said.
Some House Democrats have already introduced articles of impeachment against Trump in his second term, allegations the White House has denied.