Rep. Jim Clyburn said Sunday that Democrats should not prioritize impeaching President Donald Trump if they win control of the House in the upcoming midterm elections, instead focusing on making life more affordable for Americans.
Speaking on NBC’s “Meet the Press,” the South Carolina Democrat said impeachment shouldn’t be the party’s first order of business if they regain the chamber. “I don’t think that should be our priority if we get into office,” Clyburn said. “Our priority ought to be making housing, education, energy, healthcare affordable and accessible for all of our citizens. Impeaching the president will not do that.”
When pressed on whether Democrats should rule out impeaching Trump entirely, Clyburn struck a cautious middle ground. “I don’t rule it out, but I don’t rule it in,” he said, acknowledging the possibility while emphasizing other concerns.
Clyburn’s remarks align with a broader Democratic strategy that prioritizes investigations over immediate impeachment proceedings. According to reporting from Reuters and other sources, House Democrats preparing for a potential return to power are developing investigative strategies targeting companies and financial firms surrounding Trump, rather than rushing to impeach him.
A senior Democratic aide told Reuters, “We’re not going into this to impeach. No one wants a failed vote on day one. The focus is on building a body of evidence through investigations that can hold Trump accountable.” Democrats involved in planning say impeachment remains an option if investigations uncover evidence of an impeachable offense, but not as a first move.
This cautious approach reflects lessons Democrats say they learned during Trump’s first term. The House impeached Trump twice during that period, but the Senate did not vote to convict him either time. The experience has made party leaders wary of pursuing impeachment as a centerpiece of their agenda, fearing it could consume Congress while allowing Trump to cast himself as the victim of a partisan campaign.
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries has taken a similar stance. When asked by CNN about impeaching Trump, Jeffries said Democrats haven’t ruled anything in or out, but that decisions would be guided by three principles: follow the facts, apply the law, and be guided by the Constitution.
If Democrats win the House, they would gain the power to issue subpoenas, compel testimony and documents, hold public hearings, and pursue contempt proceedings. Party leaders plan to use these investigative tools to examine Trump’s business dealings, his family’s financial arrangements, and potential conflicts of interest involving administration officials and contractors.
Clyburn’s comments come as Democrats prepare for the November midterm elections, when polls show the party favored to regain control of the House. The question of how aggressively to pursue Trump remains a point of internal discussion, with some rank-and-file Democrats pushing for stronger accountability measures while leadership emphasizes restraint and focus on economic issues that resonate with voters.
Sources
- NBC News — Clyburn’s full statement on impeachment and Democratic priorities on “Meet the Press” (Aug. 30, 2026)
- Reuters — Democratic strategy prioritizing investigations over impeachment, with reporting on investigative targets and Democratic planning (Aug. 8, 2026)
- Los Angeles Times — Democratic leadership positions on impeachment and broader investigative agenda (Aug. 13, 2026)
