Donald Trump is already planning his revenge if Republicans lose control of Congress in November.
During an interview with Fox News host Laura Ingraham at the Republican midterm convention in Dallas on Thursday, Trump was asked whether his “whole legacy is on the line” in the November 3 elections.
Trump has repeatedly told Republicans to treat the midterms as though he himself were on the ballot.
And apparently, he has already decided what he’ll do if voters decide otherwise: become a roadblock.
“I’m campaigning for other people,” Trump said. “When you say my legacy, I’ll be a block. I’ll end up being a blocker. I’ll block all their bad stuff for two years.”
Then, after describing his future role as a congressional roadblock, Trump suggested he might occasionally make deals with Democrats.
“I’ll probably be able to make deals with them,” he said. “You know, they’re gonna want stuff… you make deals.”
Then came the Trumpian qualification:
“So, it’s not as dire… maybe it is as dire?”
In other words, Trump is simultaneously saying a Democratic takeover wouldn’t be catastrophic while acknowledging that he plans to spend the final two years of his presidency blocking Democratic legislation.
The comments come as Trump is campaigning aggressively to keep Republicans in control of Congress amid weak polling numbers.
CNN chief data analyst Harry Enten recently described Trump’s numbers on inflation as “historically awful,” noting that Trump has posted the worst net approval ratings on inflation recorded in presidential polling history.
A recent Reuters/Ipsos poll cited in reporting put Trump’s overall approval at 33%, with 63% disapproving. His numbers among independents were even worse.
The economic picture has also become more complicated for Trump as the war involving Iran has contributed to higher oil and gasoline prices heading into the midterms. Reuters reported that oil prices had risen above $100 a barrel amid the conflict.
So Trump is putting himself front and center in the midterms — while simultaneously preparing an excuse for what he’ll do if Republicans lose.
And then Ingraham brought up the issue Trump clearly didn’t want to dwell on: impeachment.
She clarified that when she referred to his legacy, she was talking about the possibility of Democrats launching impeachment investigations if they take control of Congress.
Trump’s response?
“They’ll try and impeach.”
He then mocked the idea by recounting an unnamed Democrat supposedly saying Trump should be impeached but not being able to explain why.
“What would you do it on?” Trump said. “I don’t know?”
Ingraham responded with an eye roll and a scoff.
Trump appeared to be referring to Democratic Rep. Jamie Raskin, who said on NBC’s “Meet the Press” that impeachment remains a possible tool if Democrats regain control of the House.
“Impeachment is not a taboo with us,” Raskin said. “It’s a tool in the toolbox. We will not hesitate to use it if we need to use it.”
Raskin said he believed Trump had committed impeachable offenses, pointing to several actions, including the administration’s conduct involving Iran and the demolition of the White House’s East Wing for construction of a new ballroom. Those are Raskin’s allegations, not adjudicated findings.
Trump, meanwhile, has already been through impeachment twice.
The House impeached him in 2019 over his dealings with Ukraine and again in 2021 following the January 6 attack on the Capitol. Senate Republicans acquitted him both times.
Now, with another midterm election approaching, Trump has told Republicans to pretend he is on the ticket.
And if voters hand Congress to Democrats anyway, Trump says he’ll become their “blocker.”
That may be his plan for the final two years of his presidency.
Fight them.
Block them.
