Rahm Emanuel advises Democrats against impeaching Trump if they gain House control

<p>Former Chicago Mayor and White House chief of staff Rahm Emanuel advised his fellow Democrats not to pursue impeachment of President Donald Trump if they win control of the House of Representatives in the upcoming elections. Emanuel made these remarks during a Sunday appearance on NBC News' "Meet the Press," suggesting that Democrats should focus on ethics reform instead.</p><p>"Short answer: No, because it’s not going anywhere, and it’s going to be a food fight, and it’s just going to be we return to the politics of fighting," Emanuel stated when asked about the possibility of impeaching Trump. He added, "You’re never going to get an impeachment. Then if you do that, you just basically prove all Washington is what the American people think. It’s Disneyland on the Potomac. Deliver the change. Deliver a comprehensive ethics package that uses the investigations to then deliver change."</p><p>This statement comes as Democrats are reportedly holding a significant advantage over Republicans in the lead-up to the midterm elections. In the House, Democrats are projected to win 215 seats compared to 201 for the GOP, meaning they need to secure three more victories out of the 19 toss-up races to clinch a majority. Republicans would need to win at least 17 of those races.</p><p>House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., has not confirmed whether he would support impeachment proceedings against Trump, although he indicated this summer that it would not be a top priority. "We haven’t ruled anything in or ruled anything out in terms of accountability. What we have said is that our focus is going to be to make life more affordable for the American people. We have to drive down the high cost of living," Jeffries told NBC in June when asked about impeachment.</p><p>Emanuel, who served two terms as mayor of Chicago and as chief of staff for former President Barack Obama, is among several prominent Democrats rumored to be considering a presidential run in 2028. He has positioned himself as a moderate Democrat, opposing the influence of democratic socialists within the party, while also expressing support for some far-left candidates.</p><p>During a recent interview, Emanuel criticized positions such as defunding the police and open borders, stating, "You think people wanna support defunding the police? You think they wanna support open borders, open prisons? Run on it. I don't, and that's not the party's position." He emphasized the importance of healthy debate within the party's progressive and pragmatic wings.</p><p>While speaking at the Texas Tribune Festival, Emanuel praised Democratic Texas Senate nominee James Talarico for being "strong" and comfortable discussing his faith. However, when asked about his support for Abdul El-Sayed's candidacy in Michigan, Emanuel was initially non-committal, stating, "Look, I mean, it doesn't matter what I do... it matters what the Michigan voters think." He concluded by expressing his hope for Democratic success in the Senate.</p><p><i>Fox News' Joseph Wulfsohn contributed to this report.</i></p>