US President Donald Trump has warned Republican lawmakers that failure to win the 2026 congressional midterm elections could expose his administration to impeachment by Democrats.

Trump issued the warning on Tuesday while addressing Republican legislators at a party retreat in Washington, stressing that retaining control of Congress is essential to protecting his presidency and advancing his legislative agenda.

“You have to win the midterms because if we don’t, they will definitely find a reason to impeach me,” Trump told the lawmakers. “I’ll get impeached.”

The president cautioned that losing the House of Representatives would not only stall Republican policies but also open the door to investigations into his administration. Republicans currently hold a narrow majority in the House.

Trump urged party members to set aside internal divisions and focus on selling Republican positions on key issues such as gender policies, healthcare reforms and election integrity, particularly to voters grappling with the rising cost of living.

Acknowledging the historical trend that governing parties often lose seats during midterm elections, Trump questioned the mindset of voters who, he said, fail to appreciate economic gains under Republican leadership.

He made only a brief reference to inflation, attributing the problem to policies inherited from previous Democratic administrations, and encouraged lawmakers to campaign on improvements in the US stock market.

Trump also downplayed the January 6, 2021 attack on the US Capitol, remarks that came as Democrats marked the fifth anniversary of the riot and accused Republicans of attempting to distort historical facts.

The retreat was held at the John F. Kennedy Centre for the Performing Arts, which Trump claimed had recently undergone changes to its board. During his unscripted speech, which lasted over an hour, the president repeated several claims disputed by official records, including assertions that Washington recorded no homicides for months.

He predicted an “epic” Republican victory in the 2026 midterms but complained about party members he accused of refusing to fall in line.

Every seat in the House of Representatives and one-third of the US Senate will be contested in November 2026. No sitting US president has avoided losing House seats in the midterms since George W. Bush in 2006.

Trump urged Republicans to counter Democratic messaging on healthcare, particularly calls to extend subsidies under the Affordable Care Act, saying the party must take ownership of the issue.

“All of these issues matter, but you can own healthcare,” he said. “Figure it out.”

The president also called on conservative lawmakers to show flexibility on divisive provisions such as the Hyde Amendment, which restricts federal funding for abortion.

Trump was impeached twice during his first term but was acquitted by the Senate on both occasions. He dismissed those impeachments as baseless.

Some House Democrats have already introduced articles of impeachment against Trump in his second term, allegations the White House has denied.

Trump noted that the slim Republican majority in the House limits the authority of Speaker Mike Johnson, adding that leadership is difficult “when you have a majority of three.”

He also defended his push to expand executive powers on immigration, military action and regulation, moves that could face scrutiny from the US Supreme Court in the coming months.