Key Points and Summary: President Trump’s team is reportedly preparing for a potential third impeachment attempt, particularly if Democrats regain control of the House of Representatives in the 2026 midterms.
-This concern is fueled by early impeachment articles filed by Rep. Shri Thanedar and supportive comments from other Democrats like Sen. Jon Ossoff.
-Key Trump allies, including pollster John McLaughlin and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, anticipate that a Democrat-led House would quickly pursue impeachment.
-Aware that such proceedings can derail a presidential agenda even without Senate conviction, the administration feels an urgency to enact its priorities before the midterms.
Trump Team Is Preparing for the Worst: Impeachment Coming?
The ‘I’ Word – President Donald Trump has faced two impeachment and removal attempts, can he survive a third?
There are already articles of impeachment filed against him in the House of Representatives for the next go-around, plus at least one impeachment supporter has cropped up in the Senate.
This may seem far-fetched now that the Republicans control both chambers of Congress, hence no impeachment effort is possible to succeed, but that could change.
In the 2026 Midterms, the GOP could lose both the House and the Senate making impeachment proceedings a real possibility.
That’s why some of Trump’s political advisers are bracing for such a contingency and preparing operatives and communications experts in the MAGA world for the worst.
Impeachment May Be a Certainty for Trump
John McLaughlin, one of the president’s main pollsters, is planning for an impeachment if the Democrats take the House back in 2026. “I’m certain,” he told Axios at the end of April.
The Current State of Impeachment
Congressman Shri Thanedar has introduced seven articles of impeachment against Trump. Thanedar believes the president has obstructed justice and abused power. He also charges Trump with usurpation of appropriation power, abuse of trade power, violation of the First Amendment, creation of an unlawful office, engagement in bribery and corruption, and tyrannical over-reach.
Thanedar said in a news release, that “Donald Trump has repeatedly demonstrated that he is unfit to serve as President and represents a clear and present danger to our nation’s constitution and our democracy,” said Thanedar. “His unlawful actions have subverted the justice system, violated the separation of powers, and placed personal power and self-interest above public service. We cannot wait for more damage to be done. Congress must act.”
One Senator Is Already On Board with Impeachment
Senator Jon Ossoff, in a townhall meeting in April, agreed with an attendee that Trump needed to be impeached for selling a “meme coin” in exchange for access to the White House. Plus, Texas Congressman Al Green is likely to file his own impeachment articles.
McLaughlin, fellow supporters, and rapid responders in Trump’s war room want to make sure the president passes as much of his agenda through Congress as possible. That means getting approval for the 2017 tax reductions and his current spending bill plus codifying budget cuts and agency closures instigated by the Department of Government Efficiency.
A Midterm Loss Would Stoke the Flames
“We need to pass the tax cuts and avoid a recession,” McLaughlin said. “That’s the high stakes here. We cannot lose the midterms.”
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent recently explained to right-wing podcaster Tucker Carlson that “the real danger here if there were a midterm loss — and I don’t think there has to be — you know what’s going to happen … [The] Democratic House is going to go immediately to impeachment for something.”
Trump has called Thanedar a “lunatic.” He also said that lawmakers wanting to impeach him had “gone totally crazy.”
Is Impeachment the Best Thing for the Country?
However, an impeachment proceeding against Trump could create backlash in his favor. Some voters are likely wary of the “lawfare” against Trump and are ready for more civility in Washington. Another impeachment of Trump could tear the country apart emotionally and create more hatred and divisions with voters already smarting from high inflation and a trade war. Gross Domestic Product growth dipped slightly into the negative territory last quarter. A recession is typically defined as two straight quarters of negative GDP growth. Voters are scared about the future and an impeachment process improves no-one’s standard of living.
When it comes to threats to his presidency, Trump seems to be at his best. He loves depending on his lawyers for due process and would likely maintain that the Democrats only hate his policies and that he has done nothing criminal.
Democrats disagree. The biggest problem for Trump could be the way he seems to disregard court rulings, especially during his hardline immigration policies that have been challenged and over-ruled by various judges.
Much will depend on midterm elections in 2026. The Republicans hold a slim majority in the House, while the Senate appears to be on firmer ground with the GOP. Plus, it takes a two-thirds majority in the Senate to remove an impeached president.
Democrats thus have a long and unclear road ahead when it comes to impeachment, but the Trump team is aware that it could happen again. This means they are ready to dig in for a war and use all means at their disposal to fight back even if some believe the Democrats are walking down the path of a fool’s errand.
About the Author: Dr. Brent M. Eastwood
Brent M. Eastwood, PhD is the author of Don’t Turn Your Back On the World: a Conservative Foreign Policy and Humans, Machines, and Data: Future Trends in Warfare plus two other books. Brent was the founder and CEO of a tech firm that predicted world events using artificial intelligence. He served as a legislative fellow for U.S. Senator Tim Scott and advised the senator on defense and foreign policy issues. He has taught at American University, George Washington University, and George Mason University. Brent is a former U.S. Army Infantry officer. He can be followed on X @BMEastwood.
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