Joe Manchin warns Trump investigations could backfire on Democrats

Former Senator Joe Manchin has warned Democrats that launching investigations into President Donald Trump if they win control of Congress could backfire politically and pave the way for a Republican takeover in 2028.

“If they start with investigations, Michael, it’s over,” Manchin told CNN host Michael Smerconish on Saturday’s edition of Smerconish. “They’re going to tee up everything in 2028 for a Republican takeover completely.”

The former West Virginia senator urged Democrats to focus instead on lowering Americans’ cost of living if they make gains in November’s midterm elections, arguing that they should send Trump legislation aimed at helping voters and force the president to decide whether to veto it.

Manchin’s warning comes as Democrats debate how they would use congressional power if they retake the House, including whether to launch investigations of Trump and his administration that could ultimately lead to a third impeachment of the president.

Some Democrats have already called for Trump to be impeached, while others have warned that another impeachment fight could distract from the party’s message on affordability and hand Republicans a political weapon.

Newsweek reached out to the White House and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries for comment on Saturday.

Joe Manchin Warns Democrats Against Trump Investigations

Speaking to Smerconish, Manchin said Democrats would be better served by concentrating on legislation designed to ease the financial pressures facing American families.

“The problem now is, is that if they go in, Democrats go in strictly talking about all I’m concerned about right now is reducing the cost for you to be able to live a life that you can take care of yourself and your family,” he said.

Manchin argued that Democrats should advance policies even if Trump opposes them, putting the onus on the president to reject measures the party can present to voters as beneficial.

“If they can do that, they’re fine,” he said. “If they can’t, and they’re just consumed with retaliation and retribution, which is what we’ve been seeing for the last two years, that’s not what the American people want or need right now.”

The warning pushes the debate beyond November’s midterm elections. Manchin argued that how Democrats govern after a potential midterm victory could have consequences in 2028, when Trump will be unable to seek another term.

It also puts Manchin alongside Democrats who have cautioned against allowing impeachment or investigations to overshadow economic issues, although his warning goes further by predicting a “Republican takeover” if Democrats make that mistake.

Democrats Weigh Trump Investigations if They Win House

Democrats are increasingly grappling with what a new House majority should do about Trump.

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries has declined to rule out impeachment, telling PBS last month: “We certainly haven’t ruled anything in and we haven’t ruled anything out.”

Jeffries said Democrats would investigate potential wrongdoing, “follow the facts, apply the law, be guided by the Constitution” and “let the chips fall where they may.”

Jeffries, House Minority Whip Katherine Clark and Democratic Caucus Chair Pete Aguilar drew that line in September after Democratic Representative Al Green of Texas brought another impeachment resolution against Trump.

“Impeachment is a sacred constitutional vehicle designed to hold a corrupt executive accountable for abuse of power, breaking the law and violating the public trust,” the three leaders said in a joint statement.

But, they added, such an effort “traditionally requires a comprehensive investigative process,” which they said had not occurred.

Less than two weeks later, Democratic Representative Steve Cohen of Tennessee introduced another effort, consisting of 26 articles of impeachment alleging misconduct by Trump across issues including immigration, the Iran war, tariffs, federal spending, presidential pardons and alleged personal financial benefit from the presidency.

Cohen has acknowledged that his effort is unlikely to advance under the current Republican-controlled Congress.

“I know they won’t go anywhere, but I’m not going to stop standing up for my constituents and for democracy,” he told Nexstar.

Democrats Clash Over Trump Impeachment Before Midterms

Manchin is not alone in warning his former party about the political risks of another impeachment battle.

Former Obama White House chief of staff Rahm Emanuel answered “Short answer: No” when asked on NBC News’ Meet the Press on October 4 whether Democrats should impeach Trump if they regain the House.

“It’s not going anywhere, and it’s going to be a food fight,” Emanuel said.

He has instead advocated investigating alleged corruption before pursuing a broader ethics package.

Former Democratic Representative Joe Cunningham of South Carolina previously told Newsweek that congressional Democrats risk allowing impeachment to overwhelm the rest of their agenda.

“If Democrats initiate an impeachment process, it will consume the oxygen in Washington and overshadow virtually everything else they are trying to accomplish for Americans,” Cunningham said.

“The Democratic Party needs to be known for what it is fighting for, not simply what it is fighting against.”

That argument closely parallels Manchin’s emphasis on affordability, although Manchin’s remarks Saturday were directed more broadly at investigations rather than impeachment alone.

Trump Impeachment Divides Democrats in Key 2026 Races

The disagreement has also surfaced in competitive Senate races ahead of the midterms.

Former Ohio Senator Sherrod Brown has said he would not support Trump’s impeachment, while New Hampshire Representative Chris Pappas said impeachment “should not come at the expense of the need to focus on the cost-of-living crisis and addressing the healthcare challenges that New Hampshire is facing.”

Josh Turek, the Democratic candidate challenging Republican Representative Ashley Hinson in Iowa’s Senate race, has said he has “no interest” in pursuing impeachment.

“I think that we need to look forward and not back,” Turek said.

In Kansas, Democratic Senate candidate Adam Hamilton has similarly said he is “not going to Washington to hold trials.”

“I’m going to Washington to fight for the people of Kansas and make life better for them,” he said.

But other Democrats have taken a different position.

Michigan Democratic Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed has said he sees multiple potential impeachable offenses by Trump, while arguing that enforcement of the law rather than political retribution should drive any action.

Minnesota Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanagan has been more direct, saying impeachment “is absolutely on the table and I will absolutely be on board for that.”

Could Donald Trump Be Impeached Again?

A Democratic takeover of the House would fundamentally change the impeachment arithmetic, but not necessarily make Trump’s removal likely.

The House can impeach a president by a simple majority. Conviction and removal from office, however, require a two-thirds vote among senators present, meaning Republican support would almost certainly be required regardless of the midterm results.

Trump himself has recently raised the prospect of another impeachment if Democrats take control of Congress. Asked outside the White House on October 2 what a third impeachment would mean for him, he replied: “Well, I don’t know, but I’m getting good at it.”

He went on to dismiss his previous impeachments as “fake,” saying: “But with me, they like to do it.”

Trump was impeached twice during his first term.

The House impeached him in December 2019 on charges of abuse of power and obstruction of Congress following an investigation into his dealings with Ukraine. The Senate acquitted him in February 2020.

He was impeached again in January 2021 on a charge of incitement of insurrection following the January 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol and was again acquitted by the Senate.

Public opinion does not make the question straightforward for Democrats. A Strength in Numbers/Verasight poll conducted April 10-14 found that 55 percent of Americans supported the House impeaching Trump, while 37 percent opposed it and 8 percent said they did not know.

The poll underscores the competing pressures Democrats could face if they win the House: public support for impeachment alongside concerns that investigations could overshadow their governing agenda.

Trump and Republicans have already sought to make that prospect part of their midterm argument.

House Speaker Mike Johnson has warned that Democrats would impeach Trump if Republicans lose their majority.

For Manchin, however, the larger danger for Democrats comes after the midterms. A Democratic victory would give the party an opportunity to demonstrate that it can govern, he argued, while becoming “consumed with retaliation and retribution” could instead help Republicans return to power in 2028.