Smith Backs Impeaching Trump
Rep. Adam Smith of Washington became the latest Democrat to endorse impeachment of President Donald Trump, as House leaders stop short of committing to it.
Updated on Nov. 3, 2026 in Political Parties
Live Poll
Do you think Congress should impeach President Trump?
Rep. Adam Smith (D-Washington), ranking member of the House Armed Services Committee, publicly endorsed impeaching President Donald Trump. Smith had declined to commit in May, and Rep. Hakeem Jeffries has declined to rule impeachment in or out ahead of the 2026 midterms.
Why it matters
Smith cited Trump's embrace of Vladimir Putin over Ukraine and his unhinged speeches as reasons for backing impeachment. Democrats are poised to win control of the House in the midterms, which would give impeachment proceedings a path forward.
Polls show 53 percent of Americans in a June Strength in Numbers/Verasight survey and 54 percent in a Politico survey believe grounds exist to impeach Trump, while 50 percent of Politico respondents say Democrats should pursue it. Whether House leadership will commit to impeachment before the midterms remains unresolved.
The players
Adam Smith
Democratic congressman representing Washington and ranking member of the House Armed Services Committee, who has previously focused on defense policy oversight.
Hakeem Jeffries
Democratic leader in the House of Representatives from New York who has been cautious about committing his caucus to impeachment.
Donald Trump
Current President of the United States, whose conduct toward Ukraine and Russia and whose public speeches have drawn calls for impeachment from some Democrats.
The details
Smith said public opinion would be open to impeachment, adding that the impeachable offenses have been obvious for a long time. He said Democrats should attempt impeachment even if it does not succeed, and that a shift in opinion among House members could persuade Jeffries to give it more consideration.
Timeline
May 2026: Smith declined to commit to impeaching Trump.
June 2026: Jeffries said Democrats had not ruled impeachment in or out.
Late October 2026: Smith publicly endorsed impeachment to reporters.
November 3, 2026: 2026 midterm elections, where Democrats are poised to win House control.
Political Context
Trump was impeached by the House in 2019 and again in 2021, and the renewed debate over a third impeachment follows that precedent. Whether Democrats pursue it would depend on their winning House control in the 2026 midterms.
Impeachment would force the House to open formal proceedings, which would consume significant floor and committee time in the next Congress. Voters weighing the midterms will see the issue shape campaign messaging on both sides.
The takeaway
Support for impeachment is divided by poll, with majorities in some surveys saying grounds exist but a sizable share disagreeing. Party leaders' decisions will depend largely on the outcome of the midterm elections.
What happens next
Democrats are expected to determine their posture on impeachment as the 2026 midterm elections approach on November 3, 2026.
Further reading
Follow the latest in Political Parties coverage for more on how Democrats and Republicans are positioning ahead of the midterms.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Truthout.
Live Poll
Do you think Congress should impeach President Trump?
