House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries has stated that a potential third impeachment of Donald Trump will not be a “top priority” should Democrats regain control of the House of Representatives in the midterm elections. In an interview with Fox News on Sunday, Jeffries emphasised that the primary focus would be on reducing the high cost of living for Americans.
“I’ve made clear from the very beginning that our top priority is going to be to drive down the high cost of living,” Jeffries said. “We believe in this country, you work hard, you play by the rules. You should be able to live an affordable life, a comfortable life, in fact, to live a good life, and that means a good paying job and good housing, good health care, good education for your children, and when it’s all said and done, a good retirement.”
His remarks come despite reports that some Democratic lawmakers are already preparing plans to initiate impeachment proceedings in November, should they win control of the House. Trump himself has warned Republicans that Democrats would pursue further impeachment efforts if they regain power.
The president has already faced two impeachment attempts during his first term. The first, in December 2019, saw him impeached on charges of abuse of power and obstruction of Congress after allegedly pressuring Ukrainian officials to investigate Joe Biden, his likely opponent in the 2020 election. The Senate acquitted Trump on February 5, 2020, with a majority voting in favour of acquittal.
The second impeachment followed the January 6 Capitol riots, with Trump charged with “incitement of insurrection.” The Senate trial occurred after he left office, and on February 13, 2021, he was acquitted again.
Democrats have already filed articles of impeachment against Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth over threats to Iran, accusing the president of a “serial usurpation of the congressional war power” and “commission of murder, war crimes and piracy” in attacks on Iran, Venezuela, and international waters.
However, many Democratic lawmakers agree with Jeffries, warning that focusing on impeachment could muddy their election-year message centred on affordability. They fear it might alienate voters who witnessed the previous failed attempts and are more concerned with economic issues. Representative Rosa DeLauro of Connecticut acknowledged that “there is something unbelievably wrong” with Trump but stressed the need to concentrate on the country’s needs, such as the economy, healthcare, and grocery prices.
