Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi signaled Monday that President Donald Trump has not committed any actions during his second term that would justify impeachment, a notable shift in tone from the woman who presided over two historic impeachment efforts against him in his first term.
Speaking on USA Today’s “The Excerpt” podcast, Pelosi was asked directly whether Democrats should make impeachment part of their agenda if they regain control of the House. USA Today Washington Bureau Chief Susan Page pressed for clarity, asking whether impeachment “should not be the agenda of Democrats for this last two years.” Pelosi responded cautiously, saying impeachment should not be treated casually or politically.
“No, I mean unless he — if he crosses the border again,” Pelosi said, before emphasizing that impeachment cannot be wielded as a routine threat. “But that’s not an incidental thing you say — ‘We’re going to do that.’ No, there has to be cause. There has to be reason.” Pelosi described impeachment as a “very serious historic thing,” invoking the Constitution and the founders’ intent to guard against a truly “rogue president.”
Pelosi went on to argue that the framers anticipated the possibility of an out-of-control executive, but she also criticized the Senate for what she described as a lack of courage during Trump’s previous trials. “They didn’t know there’d be a rogue president at the same time a rogue Senate that didn’t have the courage to do the right thing,” she said, noting that while there was bipartisan support in the Senate, it ultimately fell short of conviction.
Pelosi’s remarks are notable given her role in spearheading two impeachments during Trump’s first term. In December 2019, the Democratic-controlled House voted to impeach Trump for abuse of power and obstruction of Congress over his phone call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, after Pelosi initially resisted impeachment calls. In January 2021, the House impeached Trump again for “incitement of insurrection” following the Jan. 6 Capitol riot.
Despite Pelosi’s caution, some Democrats continue to push for impeachment. Last Thursday, Texas Democrat Rep. Al Green forced a vote on articles of impeachment against Trump, including claims related to alleged incitement of violence toward six Democratic lawmakers who had urged service members to disobey illegal orders.
Those articles were overwhelmingly tabled in a 237–140 vote, with 47 Democrats voting “present,” signaling little appetite for another impeachment fight.
The impeachment push followed a Truth Social post in which Trump said the six lawmakers could have committed a crime “punishable by death.” Trump later clarified on “The Brian Kilmeade Show” that he was not threatening the lawmakers’ lives.
Green has repeatedly attempted to impeach Trump during his second term, but his efforts have gained little traction. House Democratic leadership made that clear Thursday, issuing a statement distancing themselves from Green’s actions. Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries and his leadership team stressed that impeachment requires a serious, evidence-based investigation — not impulsive political gestures.
For now, Pelosi’s comments suggest that even prominent Democrats recognize the political and constitutional risks of rushing into yet another impeachment. While the hard left continues to agitate, Democratic leadership appears wary of relitigating old battles without clear justification — a tacit acknowledgment that impeachment fatigue may have set in with the American public.
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