US President Donald Trump has warned that Republicans must secure victory in the 2026 congressional midterm elections or risk Democrats moving to impeach him.
Trump made the remarks on Tuesday while speaking to Republican lawmakers during a retreat in Washington.
“You gotta win the midterms ’cause, if we don’t win the midterms, it’s just gonna be — I mean, they’ll find a reason to impeach me,” he said.
“I’ll get impeached.”
Trump cautioned that a loss of congressional control could derail his policy agenda and open his administration to multiple investigations.
He called on Republican lawmakers, who currently hold a narrow majority in the US House of Representatives, to set aside internal divisions.
The president urged party members to promote Republican positions on gender issues, healthcare and election integrity to voters grappling with rising living costs.
“They say that when you win the presidency, you lose the midterm,” he said.
“I wish you could explain to me what the hell’s going on with the mind of the public.”
Trump made only passing remarks about inflation, saying the issue was inherited from Democratic administrations.
He encouraged Republicans to highlight gains in the US stock market while campaigning.
Trump also sought to minimise the January 6, 2021, attack on the US Capitol carried out by his supporters.
His comments came as Democrats observed the fifth anniversary of the riot and accused Republicans of attempting to “whitewash” the events.
The retreat took place at the John F. Kennedy Centre for the Performing Arts, which Trump claimed had recently been renamed to include his name following changes to its board.
During an unscripted speech lasting over an hour, Trump repeated several assertions disputed by official records, including claims that Washington had recorded no homicides for months.
He predicted Republicans would secure an “epic midterm victory”.
Trump also criticised party members whom he accused of refusing to fall in line.
Every seat in the House of Representatives and one-third of the Senate will be up for election in November 2026.
No sitting US president has avoided losing House seats in the midterms since George W. Bush in 2006.
Trump urged Republicans to challenge Democratic messaging on healthcare, including proposals to extend subsidies tied to Obamacare.
“All of these issues are very important issues, but you can own healthcare,” he told lawmakers.
“Figure it out.”
The president said conservative lawmakers should be flexible on provisions such as the Hyde Amendment, which limits federal funding for abortion.
Trump recalled that he was impeached twice during his first term but acquitted by the Senate on both occasions.
“I got impeached twice on nothing,” he said.
Some House Democrats have already introduced articles of impeachment against Trump during his second term, allegations the White House has dismissed.
Republicans currently hold a slim majority in the House, a situation Trump said restricts the authority of Speaker Mike Johnson.
“You can’t be tough when you have a majority of three,” he said.
Trump has also pushed to broaden executive powers on immigration, military action and regulation — moves that could soon come under scrutiny by the Supreme Court.