Mike Johnson Now Begs His Own Base to Save Trump from Impeachment: ‘Absolute Chaos’

House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) delivered a strong, almost desperate warning to conservative voters on Sunday at Turning Point USA’s America Fest in Phoenix: if Republicans lose their House majority in the 2026 midterms, Democrats will move swiftly to impeach President Donald Trump for the third time, plunging the country into “absolute chaos.”

The remarks, delivered to a packed audience of young conservatives, framed the upcoming elections not primarily as a contest of ideas or policy, but as a defensive operation to protect Trump from congressional accountability.

Johnson’s blunt assessment highlighted the precarious political reality facing the GOP: with a razor-thin majority and growing midterm headwinds, the party’s control of the House is the last remaining barrier between Trump and potential impeachment proceedings.

“Everything is on the line in the midterms in 2026, and we have much more to do,” Johnson said. “If we lose the House majority, the radical left as you’ve already heard is going to impeach President Trump, they’re going to create absolute chaos; we cannot let that happen!”

The statement marks one of the most explicit acknowledgments yet from a top Republican leader that preserving Trump’s political survival is central to the party’s midterm strategy.

GOP on the Defensive

Johnson’s plea comes amid troubling signs for Republicans. Recent polls show Trump’s approval ratings sliding to levels not seen since his first term, with CNN’s Harry Enten noting that two out of three Americans believe the country is on the “wrong track.”

Economic concerns—lingering inflation, stagnant wages, and rising costs continue to dominate voter sentiment despite administration claims of a “Golden Age.”

The GOP’s slim House majority currently just a handful of seats—makes every competitive district critical. Retirements and open seats have already created vulnerabilities, and Democratic enthusiasm is rising on issues like health care affordability and abortion rights.

Johnson’s warning is not abstract. Democrats have already filed articles of impeachment against Trump. Rep. Al Green (D-Texas) introduced articles in April 2025, though the effort stalled in a Republican-controlled House. Should Democrats flip the chamber in 2026, advancing impeachment would become far more feasible—requiring only a simple majority to pass articles and send them to the Senate for trial.

While conviction in the Senate remains highly unlikely given Republican numbers there, the process itself would consume political oxygen, dominate headlines, and potentially damage Trump’s standing among swing voters.

Johnson’s remarks reveal a strategic pivot: the midterms are being framed less as a referendum on governance and more as a firewall for the president. This approach risks alienating independent and moderate voters who prioritize policy outcomes over personal loyalty.

The speaker’s urgency also reflects internal GOP anxiety. With Trump facing ongoing legal scrutiny—including the recently unsealed Epstein files and lingering questions about classified documents—impeachment could serve as a political tool for Democrats, even if it fails to remove him.

The America Fest audience—largely young, energized conservatives responded with applause to Johnson’s call to action. The conference, which drew tens of thousands, has become a key organizing and fundraising platform for the right, making it a natural venue for Johnson to rally the base.

TOP STORIES

• Trump Losing Control as Another Senate Republican Quits: ‘The Energy Required Doesn’t Match Up’
• ‘Evil Ages Like Milk’: Karoline Leavitt Shares ‘Behind-the-Scenes’ Photos After Being Mocked for Her Viral Lip Close-Up
• MAGA Insider Leaks Trump’s Mystery Announcement – It’s a PR Stunt

Democrats seized on Johnson’s comments as evidence of GOP priorities. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries called the remarks “a tacit admission that the Republican Party is more interested in protecting Donald Trump than in protecting the American people.”

Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.), who served on the January 6 Select Committee, added: “When the Speaker of the House says the only thing standing between the country and ‘absolute chaos’ is Republican control of Congress, he’s admitting what we’ve known all along: the Republican Party is now the party of one man, not of ideas.”

Both parties face high stakes as 2026 approaches. Democrats need to flip at least five seats to reclaim the House; Republicans must hold their ground in competitive districts while defending open seats. Economic conditions, voter turnout, and the national mood will be decisive.

For now, Johnson’s warning lays bare the GOP’s midterm calculus: save the House, save Trump. Whether that message motivates the base or alienates the broader electorate remains to be seen—but the stakes could hardly be higher.