U.S. President Donald Trump on Tuesday warned Republican lawmakers that failing to win the 2026 congressional midterm elections could lead to his impeachment by Democrats.

Speaking at a Republican retreat in Washington, Trump told members of his party that electoral victory was crucial for his political survival. “You gotta win the midterms ’cause, if we don’t win the midterms, it’s just gonna be — I mean, they’ll find a reason to impeach me,” Trump said. “I’ll get impeached.”

The president addressed lawmakers as they prepare for the November elections, which could slow his agenda and open the door to congressional investigations if Republicans lose control of the House. Trump urged party members to set aside internal disagreements and actively promote his policies on gender issues, health care, and election integrity to voters who are frustrated by rising living costs.

“They say that when you win the presidency, you lose the midterm,” Trump said. “I wish you could explain to me what the hell’s going on with the mind of the public.”

Trump’s remarks came shortly after a high-profile military operation targeting Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro. Despite that international action, the president is facing pressure to refocus on domestic concerns, particularly inflation and high prices. During his speech, Trump made only brief references to the issue, saying he inherited the inflation problem from Democrats. He added that Republicans should campaign on what he described as strong gains in the U.S. stock market.

He also briefly mentioned the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol by his supporters. His comments came as Democrats in Congress marked the fifth anniversary of the riot, accusing Republicans of a “whitewash” of history.

The retreat was held at the John F. Kennedy Centre for the Performing Arts, a cultural institution created and named by Congress. Trump removed Democratic appointees from the centre’s board last year. In December, the remaining trustees voted to rename the centre to include Trump’s name alongside that of former President John F. Kennedy.

During an unstructured speech that lasted 84 minutes, Trump spoke on a wide range of topics. At one point, he reflected on advice from his wife, saying she had told him to stop dancing in public.

He also repeated several claims that were challenged by official data. Trump said Washington had seen no homicides in seven months. However, Washington police reported a murder on New Year’s Eve and said there were 127 homicides in the city in 2025.

Trump also claimed, “I don’t get to play much” golf, despite having played as recently as Sunday and regularly during his time in office.

Looking ahead to the elections, Trump predicted Republicans would defy historical trends and secure an “epic midterm victory.” At the same time, he complained about some Republican lawmakers who, in his view, do not always support him fully.

Every seat in the House of Representatives and one-third of the seats in the Senate will be up for election in November. Historically, sitting presidents have lost House seats in every midterm election since 2006, when President George W. Bush was in office.

Trump encouraged Republicans to push back more strongly against Democrats on health care. Democrats, currently the minority party in the House, are campaigning to extend expired subsidies that made Obamacare insurance more affordable for millions of Americans.

The president also addressed internal party debates over abortion-related provisions in health care legislation. He said conservative members should be “a little flexible” about including Hyde Amendment provisions, which would block taxpayer funding for abortion services.

“All of these issues are very important issues, but you can own health care,” Trump told lawmakers. “Figure it out.”

Trump has a history of impeachment battles with Democrats. During his first term from 2017 to 2021, he was impeached twice by the Democratic-led House of Representatives. The charges focused on his policy toward Ukraine and his role related to the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol riot. In both cases, the Senate voted to acquit him.

In his current term, some House Democrats have already introduced articles of impeachment, accusing Trump of abusing his power. The White House has denied these allegations.

Republicans currently hold the House by a narrow margin of five seats. This slim majority has caused frustration for both Trump and House Speaker Mike Johnson. Trump has taken steps to expand his ability to act independently on issues such as immigration, military action, and federal regulation.

He is also awaiting a key Supreme Court ruling on whether his wide use of tariffs exceeded powers that the U.S. Constitution assigns to Congress.

So far, House Republicans have largely supported Trump, allowing his administration greater control over spending and other congressional responsibilities. However, there are signs of growing independence. The House may vote this week on overriding a veto Trump issued last month that cancelled infrastructure projects in Colorado and Florida. It remains unclear whether the effort will secure the two-thirds majority required to override the veto.