Trump has already had his fair share of impeachments. Democrats need to move on.
But Pelosi is now talking about impeaching Trump in an explosive interview with USA Today.
Pelosi’s Reluctance for a Third Impeachment
Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has downplayed the idea of pursuing a third impeachment against President Donald Trump, insisting on the need for substantial grounds while reflecting on past actions.
During an interview with USA Today’s Susan Page released on Saturday, Pelosi was asked whether the Democratic Party should consider impeaching Trump again if they retake the House in 2026.
“The person most responsible for impeaching President Trump when I was speaker was President Trump,” Pelosi began. “He gave us no choice. He crossed the line in his telephone call with President Zelenskyy as one manifestation of his disrespect for the Constitution, his jeopardizing the sanctity of our own elections in our country, and the rest.”
She continued, “And then, of course, January 6th. He can try to change the narrative all he wants, but we will be there to make sure the public knows the truth about January 6th. It was an insurrection incited by the President of the United States.”
Strict Standards Emphasized Amid Criticism
Pelosi stressed that impeachment cannot be casual or agenda-driven, a stance that contrasts with her leadership during Trump’s prior impeachments and draws scrutiny for apparent inconsistency.
“If he crosses the border again,” Pelosi answered. “But that’s not an incidental thing. You say, ‘We’re going to do that.’ No, there has to be cause. There has to be reason. We had review. This was a very serious, historic thing.”
She continued, “And our founders knew that there could be a rogue president, and that’s why they put impeachment in the Constitution. They didn’t know there’d be a rogue president at the same time a rogue Senate that didn’t have the courage to do the right thing. It was bipartisan in the Senate, but it wasn’t enough.”
Critics point to potential hypocrisy, noting Pelosi’s quick moves on previous impeachments—despite initially resisting—and her past defenses against similar accusations when Republicans pursued inquiries without full votes.
As speaker, Pelosi oversaw both impeachments of Trump in 2019 and 2021, with the Senate acquitting him each time.
Party Divisions on Recent Efforts
Intra-party pushes for impeachment in Trump’s second term have faltered, underscoring Pelosi’s cautious approach.
Over the past year, Rep. Al Green, D-Texas, has filed several articles of impeachment against Trump during his second term. Most recently, Green moved to get a vote on two articles of impeachment Wednesday night via a privileged resolution, a mechanism allowing lawmakers to force action on a bill within two legislative days.
Green’s effort failed on Thursday after 23 House Democrats joined the GOP in voting against the measure.
