Impeachment Politics Return: GOP Warns of Trump Ouster While Democrats Stay Cautious

Republicans frame Democrats as plotting to impeach Trump if they retake the House, but Democratic leaders signal hesitation as voters weigh midterm stakes.

WASHINGTON | Impeachment politics are once again casting a shadow over Washington as the 2026 midterms approach. Republicans are sounding alarms that a Democratic takeover of the House would result in an immediate push to impeach President Donald Trump — a warning they hope will energize conservative voters in an election year when Trump himself is not on the ballot.

House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) set the tone, telling the Shreveport Times that “Democrats would vote to impeach Trump on their first day.” The National Republican Congressional Committee echoed that message in a recent ad, branding Democrats’ “Project 2026” agenda as a campaign to remove Trump from office. Conservative commentator Byron York also warned that Gov. Gavin Newsom’s California redistricting plan was a veiled attempt to end Trump’s presidency through impeachment.

For Republicans, impeachment has become both a rallying cry and a political weapon. With narrow majorities and contentious redistricting fights ahead, GOP leaders view the specter of Trump’s removal as a way to mobilize their base.

But Democrats appear far less eager to make impeachment a centerpiece of their platform. Speaking with 'TELL IT LIKE IT IS' News, Rep. Emanuel Cleaver (D-Mo.) cautioned: “We should never, at least in the near future, use the ‘I’ word. One of the things we learned is that articles of impeachment are also articles of recruitment for Trump.”

Democrats have blocked recent impeachment efforts by their own members, including Rep. Al Green (D-Texas) and Rep. Shri Thanedar (D-Mich.), signaling a broader strategy to avoid reigniting political battles that previously ended in Senate acquittals and boosted Trump’s fundraising.

Progressives such as Rep. Greg Casar (D-Texas) acknowledge impeachment remains a constitutional tool but argue that for now, Democrats should focus on hearings, investigations, and persuading the public before considering another high-stakes showdown.

Outside activist groups share that caution. Ezra Levin, co-founder of Indivisible, described impeachment as “symbolic” and urged Democrats to pursue oversight, subpoenas, and accountability measures targeting Trump’s allies as well as the president himself.

Still, Republicans continue to warn that without their control of the House, Trump’s agenda would stall. “If Hakeem Jeffries and Democrats get the majority, day one they’re going to pass articles of impeachment. How could they not?” said Indiana GOP strategist Pete Seat.

Adding his voice to the debate, James Thomas, Owner of JWT Communications and host of 'TELL IT LIKE IT IS' Talk Show, issued a sharp rebuke:

“If Republicans in Congress are too afraid to do their jobs and uphold the Constitution by allowing the checks and balances of each branch of government to function, then they need to be replaced during the midterms. The American people deserve honesty and accountability — not lies and political games. Quit misleading your constituents. Instead of fearmongering, members of Congress should focus on serving the people who elected them. If they cannot do that, voters must hold them accountable at the ballot box.”

For now, impeachment remains more a political talking point than a legislative reality. But as both parties prepare for bruising midterm contests, its shadow looms large over Washington — a reminder that Trump’s presidency continues to define the stakes of American politics.

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-- By James W. Thomas and Michele Robinson

Andréa Mochida contributed to this report.

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