President Donald Trump predicted that Democrats would impeach him for a third time if they retake control of Congress, seeking to boost voter enthusiasm for Republican candidates amid broad public dissatisfaction with his leadership.
Trump spoke Thursday during a campaign swing through Texas and Oklahoma, states that he carried handily in his three presidential campaigns but which are now home to competitive Senate and gubernatorial races, highlighting the peril the GOP faces in the November midterm elections.
“Pretend I’m running, please, because I am on the ballot. And if we don’t win, they’ll end up impeaching me,” the president said during a rally in the Oklahoma city of Durant. “They’re going to ruin our nation if they’re allowed to get back into office.”
House Democrats are preparing a wide swath of investigations into Trump, his family and his administration if they win control of the chamber, but leaders have not committed to starting an impeachment inquiry. Still, raising the specter of impeachment could help the president motivate his base to cast ballots for the GOP.
During an earlier stop in Texas, Trump urged voters there to back Republican Senate nominee Ken Paxton, whose candidacy he has critiqued previously.
At the Republican midterm convention last month, the president repeatedly bemoaned Paxton’s attire and speaking style. Trump needled Paxton again on Thursday, saying he can be a “pain in the a—” but said he appreciated him for his personal loyalty.
“We need Ken so badly, and that’s why I’m here,” Trump said during an event at a Peterbilt Motors Co. facility in the Dallas suburb of Denton, Texas.
Trump’s approval rating is at record lows and voters have grown frustrated by the cost of living and a war with Iran that has brought higher prices at the pump, putting Republican candidates at a disadvantage.
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The president insisted that he has “handled inflation” and blamed price growth on his predecessor, Joe Biden. Trump knocked the former president for a spike in illegal border crossings but he acknowledged his mass deportation campaign has had an effect on the labor market.
“We need people actually, because we’re doing so well,” he said. “We need people, but they have to be people that can love our country and treat our country with respect.”
The president is embarking on a month-long campaign blitz ahead of Election Day on Nov. 3.
Trump will also visit Alabama on Friday and Ohio on Saturday. Whether there is enough time to reverse the negative trend for Republicans is unclear. With less than five weeks to go, several polls show Republicans trailing Democrats in crucial House races. And GOP hopes of retaining control of the Senate have also dimmed as contests in states including Iowa, Georgia and Ohio become more competitive.
Paxton, the Texas attorney general, spotlights the obstacles Republicans face in GOP strongholds. Paxton defeated Senator John Cornyn in a bitter primary contest but is now trailing in the polls against James Talarico, a state representative looking to become the first Democratic US senator elected in Texas since 1988.
Trump’s endorsement was crucial in helping Paxton defeat Cornyn in the fractious primary. Some party leaders, including former state House Speaker Joe Straus and strategist Karl Rove, have cast doubt on Paxton’s ability to win.
Trump sought to boost Republican enthusiasm with last month’s midterm convention in Dallas, but that event has failed to alter the party’s trajectory and highlighted how, for many candidates in tight races, the president’s poor polling makes him more of a liability than an asset.
Paxton was heard telling donors and lobbyists last week that the convention had hurt his campaign politically. When asked about Paxton’s comments, Trump sidestepped the questions and insisted the convention drew high TV ratings.
Trump carried Texas by nearly 14 points in 2024. Recent polls show him with a negative approval rating in the state. Texans now say they prioritize high costs and the war with Iran, for which they give the president low marks.
–With assistance from Josh Wingrove and Meghashyam Mali.
Disclaimer: This report is auto generated from the Bloomberg news service. ThePrint holds no responsibility for its content.