A Michigan Democrat has become the first to file impeachment articles against President Donald Trump just 100 days into his second term — a move Trump’s advisers have been anticipating as part of a broader Democratic strategy should they win back the House in 2026.
Rep. Shri Thanedar, D-M.I., introduced seven articles of impeachment Monday alleging a range of offenses by Trump including “Obstruction of Justice and Abuse of Executive Power,” “Usurpation of Appropriations Power,” and “Tyrannical Overreach.”
Here we go… again.
“Donald Trump has repeatedly demonstrated that he is unfit to serve as President and represents a clear and present danger to our nation’s constitution and our democracy,” Thanedar said in a statement. “His unlawful actions have subverted the justice system, violated the separation of powers, and placed personal power and self-interest above public service. We cannot wait for more damage to be done. Congress must act.”
The White House wasted no time dismissing the effort, with Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt responding to questions about Thanedar by asking, “Who the hell is this lunatic?”
White House spokesperson Liz Huston also defended the president’s actions as “fully lawful and firmly rooted in the will of the American people.”
“President Trump is doing exactly what he promised: securing our border, bringing in trillions of dollars in investment to America, and restoring common sense leadership,” Huston said. “Meanwhile, Democrats are once again showing where their true priorities lie — siding with illegal immigrants over the safety, security, and well-being of hardworking American citizens. Their desperate impeachment stunt is nothing more than a reckless political act that the American people see right through.”
While Thanedar’s effort has virtually no chance of advancing in the Republican-controlled House, Trump’s inner circle has been bracing for multiple impeachment attempts should Democrats regain control of the chamber in the 2026 midterms.
“I’m certain,” Trump’s longtime pollster, John McLaughlin, told Axios when asked if he expected Democrats to impeach Trump again should they win the House. The threat has created urgency within the administration to push through key agenda items, especially extending Trump’s 2017 tax cuts, before the midterms.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent recently warned on Tucker Carlson’s podcast that “the real danger here if there were a midterm loss — and I don’t think there has to be — you know what’s going to happen … [The] Democratic House is going to go immediately to impeachment for something.”
The impeachment push comes as Democrats face internal divisions over how aggressively to oppose Trump, with some moderates arguing for restraint while progressives demand stronger action. Sen. Jon Ossoff, D-G.A., recently became the first swing-state senator to signal support for impeaching Trump, joining progressive House members like Thanedar and Texas Rep. Al Green who made early impeachment calls.
While the White House is preparing, insiders say they’re not very worried about the Democratic Party attempts.
“Ooh, impeachment,” one adviser mockingly told Axios. “They already did it twice and it did nothing.”
Trump was impeached twice during his first term — first for his dealings with Ukraine and later for his actions surrounding the January 6, 2021 Capitol riot — but was easily acquitted both times in the Senate, where a two-thirds majority is required for conviction.