President Donald Trump said on Nov. 4 that pursuing impeachment could damage the Democratic Party after Democrats won control of both chambers of Congress. (Foto: Instagram)
President Donald Trump said Wednesday, Nov. 4, that an impeachment effort against him could damage the Democratic Party, a day after Democrats won control of both chambers of Congress. He made the remarks during an interview in the White House ballroom, following the Republicans’ loss of the House and Senate in the Nov. 3 midterm elections.
Trump called the prospect of impeachment baseless and argued that pursuing it would hurt Democrats. He questioned whether success under his administration could justify an attempt to remove him, and asserted that the country was doing better than at any other point in its history.
With Democrats taking control of the House of Representatives and the Senate, the opposition party is positioned to block administration proposals and increase scrutiny of the Trump administration. The new congressional balance could also make it harder for the president to advance his legislative priorities over the next two years.
Trump said he believed he could work with Democrats, provided they did not act destructively. He added that he could use his veto if he opposed legislation they pursued. He also said Democrats had already contacted him and wanted to discuss issues, describing that prospect as acceptable.
The president argued that Republicans would have performed better if he had been on the ballot. Pointing to large crowds at his campaign rallies, he said he had not been able to transfer the enthusiasm and support he received to Republican candidates.
Democratic control of Congress could also allow lawmakers to investigate members of the administration. Any impeachment effort would involve separate steps in the two chambers: the House can approve articles of impeachment, while the Senate conducts a trial and decides whether to convict.
Voters also chose governors in 36 of the 50 states. At the time the results were reported, Democrats had won 22 governorships and Republicans had won 12. Democrats captured five states previously governed by Republicans: Georgia, Iowa, Texas, Ohio and Nevada.
