Hakeem Jeffries says Trump impeachment will not be in their focus on one condition, and that rests on the midterm results

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries made it clear that the Democratic party will not be prioritizing the impeachment of President Trump if they manage to secure a majority in the House following the upcoming midterm elections, The Hill reported. During his appearance on Fox News Sunday, Jeffries was asked directly if impeachment remained a top priority for his caucus. His response was immediate and definitive, as he stated “of course not” when addressing the topic.

Jeffries emphasized that his primary goal is to focus on the high cost of living that continues to affect families across the nation. He articulated a vision for the country that centers on affordability and economic stability. According to Jeffries, “I’ve made clear from the very beginning that our top priority is going to be to drive down the high cost of living.”

He went on to explain his philosophy by saying, “We believe in this country, you work hard, you play by the rules. You should be able to live an affordable life, a comfortable life, in fact, to live the good life, and that means a good paying job and good housing, good health care, good education for your children, and when it’s all said and done, a good retirement.”

It is quite a shift from the earlier rhetoric that dominated political circles earlier this year, but it reflects a strategic pivot toward issues that impact the daily lives of voters

This focus on the economy is a direct response to the recent political landscape where Democrats have seen losses among working-class voters during the 2024 election. Jeffries has been vocal about his intentions to advocate more strongly for these Americans, noting that the American dream has become increasingly difficult to attain.

He told anchor Shannon Bream, “That’s been the American dream for decades, but for far too many people, that American dream has slipped out of reach, and we should be focused on actually doing the type of things necessary to ensure that people in this country cannot simply survive, but they can thrive.” He further underscored that this economic message will be at the heart of all midterm campaigns moving forward.

The move away from impeachment talk is largely grounded in the reality of the current legislative math. While there was significant discussion earlier this year regarding the potential removal of President Trump, specifically concerning his handling of the war with Iran, these efforts have stalled significantly. Democrats have openly acknowledged that they currently lack the necessary support to move forward with such actions.

Rep. Gregory Meeks, a ranking member on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, has been particularly candid about this limitation. During a previous appearance on CNN, Meeks explained the situation by saying, “to do those things, you have to have the votes. And when I see that we have Republicans who won’t even have hearings in regard to oversight, so there’s no oversight by Republicans, and they control the House, they control the Senate, they have the presidency.”

Meeks further clarified his position by adding, “So realistically, I don’t have the time, I’m worried about the country, the country’s economy, the American people, and that’s where my efforts are going to be moving forward.” This pragmatic assessment mirrors the broader sentiment within the Democratic leadership.

Earlier in the year, after President Trump warned that a whole civilization would die in the Middle East during the conflict with Iran, many Democrats called for the 25th Amendment to be invoked. This mechanism would allow the vice president and the Cabinet to declare the president unfit for office. Rep. Jamie Raskin even called on Vice President Vance to invoke Section 4 of the 25th Amendment, and Jeffries had previously organized a virtual briefing for the caucus on the subject of administration accountability.

The White House has been quick to push back against these efforts. Spokesperson Davis Ingle described the Democratic push as “pathetic” and claimed that the party has been obsessed with removing the president since before he was even inaugurated. The White House has maintained that these Democratic efforts are a sign of weakness and are reflected in what they describe as historically low approval ratings for the party in Congress.

Despite these tensions, the path forward for Democrats appears to be rooted in a combination of national redistricting efforts and a renewed focus on policy areas like healthcare, housing, and education. By shifting the conversation away from the legal battles surrounding impeachment and toward the financial concerns of the average American, Jeffries is betting that the party can regain momentum.

The midterms will ultimately serve as the testing ground for whether this focus on the good life and economic stability will resonate enough to flip the House. As it stands, the party is prioritizing the ballot box over the impeachment process, banking on the idea that economic relief is what voters want to see most.