U.S. President Donald Trump has warned Republican lawmakers that failure to retain control of Congress in the 2026 midterm elections could lead to his impeachment by Democrats, framing the vote as a direct test of his political survival as well as his policy agenda.
Speaking on Tuesday at a retreat for House Republican lawmakers in Washington, Trump said Republicans “gotta win the midterms” or face what he described as an inevitable attempt by Democrats to remove him from office. “If we don’t win the midterms, it’s just gonna be — I mean, they’ll find a reason to impeach me,” he said. “I’ll get impeached.”
Trump’s comments underline the high stakes he is placing on the November 2026 elections, which will determine control of Congress for the second half of his term. All 435 seats in the House of Representatives will be up for election, along with 34 of the 100 seats in the Senate, where margins are often narrow and a handful of races can decide control.
The president has repeatedly portrayed Democratic opposition as driven by hostility rather than policy differences, while urging Republicans to unite behind his legislative priorities. Control of the House is particularly critical, as impeachment proceedings must originate there before moving to the Senate for a trial.
Democrats have not formally announced any plans to pursue impeachment, but some party figures have said they would intensify oversight and investigations if they regain a congressional majority. Trump was impeached twice during his previous term, though he was acquitted by the Senate on both occasions.
