Full Breakdown
Democrats Debate Impeachment of Donald Trump if They Regain the House
9/7/2026, 2:26:29 PM
Impeachment as a Potential Tool
During a recent appearance on “Meet the Press,” Representative Jamie Raskin—a former lead impeachment manager—said President Donald Trump “undoubtedly” committed impeachable offenses in his second term. He added that the president’s actions—such as initiating war without a formal declaration and repeatedly defying congressional appropriations—could justify a new impeachment inquiry. Nonetheless, Raskin emphasized that impeachment is “not a panacea” and that Democrats must also focus on delivering healthcare and curbing lawlessness.
Party Leaders’ Stances
Representative Jim Clyburn (D-S.C.) explicitly warned that making impeachment a priority would distract from “housing, education, energy, [and] healthcare” for citizens. The president’s two prior impeachments—first over alleged Ukraine pressure in 2019 and second after the Jan. 6 Capitol attack—ended in acquittal.
Verbatim Quotes
- “Everybody on our side understands that impeachment is a critical tool in the toolbox for constitutional self-defense against a president acting like a king, an imperious, lawless, arrogant king,” — Raskin, who previously served as a lead impeachment manager against Trump
- “We understand it’s not a panacea. It is a tool in the toolbox. We will not hesitate to use it if we need to use it.” — Raskin, who previously served as a lead impeachment manager against Trump
What Comes Next
Democrats have not closed the door on pursuing impeachment should they retake the House, but they have signaled that legislative priorities such as expanding healthcare access will dominate their agenda in the upcoming election cycle. The party’s internal debate suggests that any decision on impeachment will be weighed against broader policy goals and the political calculus of the midterms.
