RismadarVoice Reporters, August 31, 2026
U.S. Representative Jim Clyburn has said impeaching President Donald Trump should not be the priority for Democrats if the party regains control of the House of Representatives in the upcoming midterm elections.
Clyburn, a South Carolina Democrat, made the remarks during an interview on Sunday, saying Democrats should instead focus on policies aimed at making essential services more affordable and accessible to Americans.
Asked whether Democrats should rule out impeaching Trump if they take control of the House, Clyburn said he would neither rule it out nor commit to it.
“I don’t rule it out, but I don’t rule it in,” he said.
The veteran lawmaker added that impeachment should not be the party’s main focus if Democrats return to power.
“I don’t think that should be our priority if we get into office,” Clyburn said. “Our priority ought to be making housing, education, energy, and healthcare affordable and accessible for all of our citizens. Impeaching the president will not do that.”
His comments came days after House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries similarly declined to rule out impeachment proceedings against Trump if Democrats regain control of the chamber.
Jeffries said decisions on possible impeachment would ultimately be left to Democrats who would lead the House Oversight and Judiciary committees.
He said the party would be guided by the facts, the law and the U.S. Constitution when dealing with issues of accountability.
Democrats previously impeached Trump twice during his first term as president, but the Senate failed to convict him on either occasion.
Clyburn also reflected on his support for Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas during his 1991 confirmation hearings.
At the time, Clyburn testified in support of Thomas, whom he described as a personal and professional friend despite their differing political views.
More than three decades later, Clyburn said he regretted his decision and acknowledged that supporting Thomas was one of the mistakes he had made in his political life.
“I have made mistakes in my life, and that’s one that I made, and I will own up to that mistake,” he said.
Clyburn said he did not anticipate that Thomas would later take positions that, in his view, represented a departure from his background and experiences.
“I had no idea that Clarence Thomas would rebel the way he has against his own background and experiences,” he added.
The congressman also expressed support for a proposal to expand the U.S. Supreme Court from nine to 13 justices.
Clyburn said he believed the current political situation required Congress to consider significant measures, describing 13 as an appropriate number for the court.
“If we are in a position now that calls for some significant actions taken by Congress, and we ought to expand it,” he said.
