President Donald Trump escalated his long-running feud with Rep. Jamie Raskin on Thursday, calling for the Maryland Democrat to be expelled from Congress and arguing that the lawmaker would be in jail if not for a pardon issued by former President Joe Biden.
The latest exchange highlights the deep political divisions that continue to surround investigations into Trump, impeachment efforts, and the lingering fallout from the events of Jan. 6, 2021.
Trump’s remarks came in response to a social media post from conservative commentator Mark Levin, who warned that Raskin was already preparing for another potential impeachment effort should Democrats regain control of the House following the November elections.
Taking to Truth Social, Trump blasted the congressman, accusing him of spending years attempting to remove him from office and wasting taxpayer resources in the process.
“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, despite one of the most successful Presidencies in History,” Trump wrote.
Raskin became one of Trump’s most vocal critics during the president’s first term and played a prominent role in congressional efforts tied to impeachment proceedings. He also served on the House select committee that investigated the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol.
That committee became a frequent target of criticism from Trump and his allies, who argued it was politically motivated. Ahead of Trump’s second inauguration, Biden issued pardons to Raskin and other members of the committee after Trump suggested that lawmakers involved in the investigation should face legal consequences.
Referencing that pardon, Trump argued that Raskin escaped accountability.
“He spent time on the Unselect Committee of Political Hacks and Thugs, and was rebuffed on that, just as he has been rebuffed on Impeachment, and many other things,” Trump wrote.
The president then intensified his criticism, claiming that without Biden’s pardon, Raskin would currently be behind bars.
“If Biden didn’t give him a pardon, he’d be in jail right now!” Trump said.
Trump went on to endorse Levin’s suggestion that Congress should remove Raskin from office.
“I agree with Mark Levin when he says to, EXPEL THE BUM,” Trump wrote. “Congress can never be great with people like this, who suffer massively from Trump Derangement Syndrome (TDS), casting their vote of HATE!”
Raskin quickly fired back during an appearance on MSNBC’s MS NOW with host Chris Hayes, dismissing Trump’s comments and suggesting the president remains preoccupied with past impeachment battles.
According to Raskin, Trump’s comments reflected lingering frustration over previous congressional actions against him.
“He is obviously having nightmare flashbacks about impeachment,” Raskin said.
The congressman argued that avoiding impeachment is straightforward and accused Trump of engaging in conduct he believes could warrant congressional scrutiny.
“I’d like to tell the president, since he apparently is listening to me this week, there’s a very easy way to not get impeached,” Raskin said.
“Stop committing impeachable offenses, stop committing high crimes and misdemeanors.”
Raskin specifically pointed to issues involving war powers, congressional spending authority, and tariffs. He argued that decisions involving military conflict should remain subject to Congress’s constitutional role, underscoring concerns about executive authority during times of international tension.
He concluded by saying the president needs “a basic constitutional primer.”
The sharp exchange signals that the political and constitutional battles that defined much of Trump’s earlier years in office remain very much alive, with both sides already positioning themselves for future confrontations over executive power, impeachment, and the role of Congress.
