Black Caucus chair says Trump's actions on L.A. are impeachable
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Rep. Yvette Clarke speaks at a press conference outside the U.S. Capitol
Congressional Black Caucus chair Yvette Clarke (D-N.Y.) said Tuesday she believes President Trump mobilizing the National Guard and deploying Marines to Los Angeles rises to the level of an impeachable offense.
Why it matters: It's a break with House Democrats' general aversion towards impeachment from the head of one of their most powerful groups.
- The comment comes amid growing animosity between Democrats and the Trump administration over the president's use of law enforcement to carry out a campaign of mass deportations.
- The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Driving the news: During a press conference, Clarke was asked if Trump's actions to quell protests in L.A. rise to the level of an impeachable offense
- "I definitely believe it is," she responded, "But we'll cross that bridge when we get to it."
- Clarke and other Democrats have argued that Trump has violated the U.S. Constitution by mobilizing the National Guard over Newsom's objections.
Reality check: Democrats are highly unlikely to pursue an organized impeachment effort against Trump any time soon.
- Two rank-and-file members, Reps. Shri Thanedar (D-Mich.) and Al Green (D-Texas), have spearheaded their own rogue impeachment initiatives, but most Democrats have dissociated themselves with those efforts.
- Most Democrats are clear-eyed that impeachment would be doomed to failure with Republicans in control of Congress — and they often note that Trump won in 2024 despite previously being impeached twice.
What they're saying: House Democratic Caucus chair Pete Aguilar (D-Calif.) told reporters at a subsequent press conference, "I've said before that ... House Democrats aren't focused on impeachment today."
- Aguilar said that Democrats will grapple with those "very difficult questions" about "the policies that this administration is doing currently" if they retake the House majority in 2026.
