President Donald Trump escalated his attacks on Democrats Thursday, calling for the expulsion of Representative Jamie Raskin of Maryland from Congress and asserting that the lawmaker would be incarcerated if not for a preemptive pardon from former President Joe Biden.
Trump took to his Truth Social platform to amplify a post by conservative commentator Mark Levin, who accused Raskin of orchestrating a fresh impeachment effort should Democrats regain control of the House in November. The president’s broadside revived long-standing grievances against the Jan. 6 select committee and its members, whom he has repeatedly targeted since leaving office.
Raskin served on the House select committee that investigated the January 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol and was a vocal supporter of impeaching Trump over the riot. In the final days of the Biden administration, the former president issued pardons to Raskin and other committee members, a move Trump has seized on as evidence of wrongdoing.
“Jamie Raskin, a Loser in Life, who worked endlessly during my First Term to impeach me, and failed miserably, wasting the Country’s money, time, and effort, will guaranteed be trying to do it again,” Trump wrote, labeling the panel the “Unselect Committee of Political Hacks and Thugs.” He continued: “If Biden didn’t give him a pardon, he’d be in jail right now!” Trump concluded his post by endorsing Levin’s call to “EXPEL THE BUM,” accusing Raskin of suffering from “Trump Derangement Syndrome.”
The president’s demand comes as he faces his own legal and political challenges, including ongoing investigations and a series of controversial policy moves. Trump’s administration has recently been embroiled in disputes over Iran negotiations and Pentagon funding, while also stirring controversy with visa restrictions tied to the 2026 World Cup.
Raskin fired back in an interview with MSNBC’s Chris Hayes, dismissing Trump’s outburst as “nightmare flashbacks about impeachment.” The Maryland Democrat offered a pointed suggestion: “There’s a very easy way to not get impeached. Stop committing impeachable offenses, stop committing high crimes and misdemeanors. Don’t go to war and usurp the powers of Congress to declare war. Don’t spend money in a way different from how Congress has appropriated money. Don’t impose illegal taxes and tariffs on the American people without congressional consent.”
Raskin concluded that Trump “needs a basic constitutional primer,” a jab that underscores the deepening partisan rift over executive power and congressional oversight. The exchange highlights the enduring political fallout from the Jan. 6 attack and the ongoing battle over accountability, with both sides digging in ahead of the 2026 midterm elections.
