Johnson Drops Warning About Dem Plans For Trump If They Win Midterms
House Speaker Mike Johnson is urging Republicans to turn out in November, warning that a Democratic House majority could quickly launch another impeachment effort against President Donald Trump.
In an interview earlier this month with CNN commentator Scott Jennings, Johnson said Democrats would act almost immediately if they regain control of the chamber.
“It’s guaranteed, probably on the first day—first or second day,” Johnson said, pointing to impeachment resolutions introduced during the current Congress.
“Remember, they’ve already filed articles of impeachment in this Congress,” the speaker continued, saying Democratic lawmakers were “raring to go.”
A Democratic majority would control the House agenda, committee leadership and subpoena power, giving lawmakers broad authority to investigate administration actions even if Republicans retained the Senate.
Democratic leaders have not promised an immediate impeachment vote. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries said in a September interview with ABC News that Democrats had not decided whether to pursue impeachment.
“We haven’t ruled anything in, and we haven’t ruled anything out in terms of impeachment,” Jeffries told host George Stephanopoulos.
He said the party would assess evidence and constitutional questions before deciding how to proceed.
“We’ve got to follow the facts, apply the law, be guided by the Constitution, and then let the chips fall where they may,” he said.
Democrats have also pledged extensive oversight if they win the House, including inquiries into federal spending, contracts, immigration enforcement and Trump’s business interests. They say they would also focus on healthcare costs, housing, tariffs and other economic issues. Some Democratic lawmakers favor another impeachment push, while others have cautioned that it could distract from legislative work.
Johnson’s warning points to an existing House vote. On September 15, the chamber voted 232-147 to table a resolution seeking Trump’s impeachment. Forty-seven members voted present, and seven did not vote, according to the House clerk. The roll call showed 147 Democrats opposing the motion to table, 18 supporting it and 46 voting present. Those votes show significant Democratic support for allowing the resolution to advance, but do not establish that the entire party backs an immediate impeachment proceeding.
Trump was impeached twice during his first term: in 2019 over his dealings with Ukraine and in 2021 following the January 6 Capitol attack. The Senate acquitted him both times. Any new impeachment would first require a House majority to approve articles. Conviction and removal would then require a two-thirds vote in the Senate.
Johnson is making the prospect of another impeachment fight part of his midterm case for keeping the House under Republican control. Democrats, meanwhile, say a majority would let them investigate the executive branch and advance priorities they say Republicans have blocked.
Johnson has continued campaigning for GOP candidates, arguing that enthusiasm at his events exceeds what some national polling suggests. The November 3 election will determine whether Republicans retain the House and its committee leadership.