Donald Trump says he is not worried about being impeached for a third time, even after Democrats won control of both chambers of Congress in the November 3 midterm elections. But while the president has dismissed the prospect, Democratic lawmakers are already discussing how far they should go when they take power in January.

Speaking to reporters on Wednesday, November 4, Trump was asked whether the election result had made him concerned about another impeachment attempt. His response was emphatic: "Not even a little bit."

He argued that pursuing impeachment would damage the Democratic Party, describing the prospect as an unjustified attack on a presidency he considers exceptionally successful.

There was, however, something unusual about the setting. Rather than addressing reporters from the Oval Office or holding a conventional post-election press conference, Trump had gathered journalists at the construction site of his new White House ballroom.

As the conversation turned to impeachment, the president abruptly redirected attention to the building work overhead.

"Watch the beam go up," he told reporters, pointing towards a steel girder being lifted into position.

According to Reuters' account of the November 4 event, Trump had invited the media to witness the installation of what he described as the ballroom's final steel beam. The ceremony became his first public appearance following a major electoral defeat for his party.

Democrats Have Won Congress, but Impeachment Is Not Yet Their Priority

The political circumstances have changed considerably. Democrats secured majorities in both the House of Representatives and the Senate, giving them the ability to control congressional committees, initiate investigations and set legislative priorities once the new Congress convenes on January 3, 2027.

However, winning Congress does not automatically mean Democrats will attempt to remove Trump from office.

On Thursday, November 5, Representative Jamie Raskin, who is expected to take a leading role on the House Judiciary Committee, indicated that impeachment remains an available option rather than an immediate objective.

Speaking to reporters, Raskin said he had not encountered members demanding that the new Congress begin by impeaching Trump.

As Roll Call reported, he described impeachment as a constitutional instrument that Democrats neither regard as an obsession nor consider off-limits.

That position is consistent with House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries' previous remarks. During an August interview with CNN, Jeffries declined to rule impeachment either in or out, stressing that any decision should follow the evidence and the Constitution.

Democrats have also promised extensive scrutiny of the administration, including investigations into alleged corruption, government spending and business dealings involving Trump and his associates. The administration and Republicans have denied wrongdoing and criticised the prospect of politically motivated investigations.

Could Trump Actually Be Removed From Office?

Even with Democratic majorities in both chambers, a third impeachment would not necessarily result in Trump's removal.

The US Senate's official explanation of the impeachment process establishes two separate constitutional requirements.

First, the House of Representatives must approve articles of impeachment by a simple majority. That constitutes impeachment, but does not remove a president from office.

Second, the Senate must conduct a trial. Conviction and removal require the support of two-thirds of senators present. If all 100 senators participate, that means at least 67 votes.

Consequently, a Democratic Senate majority would not, by itself, guarantee enough votes to convict Trump. Additional support, potentially including Republican senators, would be necessary.

Trump has already experienced this distinction twice. During his first presidency, the House impeached him in 2019 and again in 2021, but the Senate acquitted him on both occasions.

The incoming congressional majorities could therefore subject the administration to significantly greater scrutiny without ultimately removing the president.

The Decision Democrats Face Before January

The question for Democratic leaders is not simply whether they possess the authority to pursue impeachment, but whether doing so should take precedence over their other commitments.

Following the midterm elections, party leaders have identified household costs, healthcare, government accountability and the Iran war among their priorities.

Some lawmakers believe impeachment should remain a serious possibility, while others are concerned that a lengthy confrontation with the White House could distract from policies intended to address voters' financial pressures.

That tension was evident in Raskin's November 5 remarks and in the broader debate among newly empowered Democrats.

Trump's ballroom appearance offered a memorable image of a president brushing aside questions about his political vulnerability while overseeing a construction project. The more consequential development, however, will unfold in Congress.

When Democrats assume their new majorities on January 3, they will have the power to investigate the administration and potentially initiate impeachment proceedings. Whether they choose to exercise that power, and whether sufficient evidence and political support emerge, remain unresolved.