During a House GOP retreat held at the Kennedy Center, which has recently been renamed to include the name of former President Donald Trump, he issued a stark warning to Republican members of Congress regarding the upcoming midterm elections. Trump emphasized that if the Republican Party fails to secure victories in the midterms, he believes he will face impeachment once again. “You got to win the midterms because if we don't win the midterms, it's just going to be -- I mean, they'll find a reason to impeach me. I'll get impeached,” Trump stated, reflecting on his previous impeachment experiences.
Trump's remarks come five years after the January 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol, a pivotal moment that led to his second impeachment. He was initially impeached in 2019 on charges of abuse of power and obstruction of Congress for allegedly pressuring Ukraine's president to interfere in the 2020 election. His second impeachment, which occurred during his final days in office, charged him with incitement of insurrection. Both times, he was acquitted by the Senate. Reflecting on these events, Trump claimed, “I got impeached twice on nothing,” highlighting his belief that the charges were unfounded.
As the 2026 elections approach, Trump expressed confidence in the superiority of Republican policies over those of the Democratic Party, while also recognizing the typical challenges that the GOP faces in midterm cycles. “They say that when you win the presidency, you lose the midterm,” he remarked, acknowledging the historical trend. Trump urged Republican lawmakers to clarify their message to the public, stating, “Because we have the right policy. They don't. They have a horrible policy.”
In his comments, Trump did not hold back on criticizing past Democratic presidents and their policies. He argued that the Democratic Party has consistently failed in governance and that Republicans must effectively communicate their strengths to the electorate. “They had the worst president, did the worst job. They had the worst policy. We have to even run against these people,” Trump asserted, while also cautioning against misinterpretations of his comments regarding elections.
Trump also addressed the current state of the GOP's slim majority in the House, which has been further impacted by the recent passing of California Republican Rep. Doug LaMalfa and the early retirement of Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene. Despite these challenges, Trump endorsed House Speaker Mike Johnson, stating, “A lot of times they'll say, 'I wish Mike were tougher.' Tougher? He’s tough as anybody in the room.” He acknowledged the difficulties of leadership with the narrow majority, saying, “But you can't be tough when you have a majority of three. And now, sadly, a little bit less than that.”
With health care expected to be a significant topic in the upcoming elections, especially after enhanced Affordable Care Act (ACA) subsidies expire at the end of 2025, Trump criticized the ACA and urged Republicans to adopt a more flexible stance on abortion restrictions. He reiterated his belief in empowering Americans to manage their health care by proposing direct payments for individuals to buy their own health insurance. “Let the money go in a health care account or however you do it. Let the money go directly to the people,” he advised.
Trump also touched on the Hyde Amendment, which restricts federal funding for abortion services, suggesting that Republicans need to be “a little flexible” on this issue. “You got to be a little flexible. You got to work something. You've got to use ingenuity,” he stated, indicating that a pragmatic approach might be necessary for navigating contentious topics within the party.