California Gov. Gavin Newsom on Monday offered a blunt warning to fellow Democrats contemplating impeachment proceedings against President Donald Trump if the party retakes the House: don’t turn it into a “sideshow.”
In an interview aired on PBS NewsHour, Newsom was asked directly whether he wants to see Democrats impeach Trump should they win back the majority in the 2026 midterms. His answer mixed reluctance with a nod to legal accountability.
“I don’t — if the facts — wherever the facts lead,” Newsom said. “And I’m not naive about the politics of that, because it will be a sideshow and a distraction.”
The governor, a potential Democratic presidential contender, emphasized that he does not want to see another impeachment effort that he believes would amount to little more than political posturing.
“What I don’t want to do is see another impeachment that amounts to nothing except a virtue signal, and that’s important,” Newsom said. “I just don’t want a sideshow.”
Newsom pivoted to what he framed as a more productive focus: a positive, affirmative agenda that he argued Democrats should champion. He pointed to California’s policies as a model, including the state’s efforts to cap insulin costs at $11 — a program he noted is unique in the nation — as well as newborn diaper initiatives, paid sick and family leave, and a push toward universal healthcare.
“We should be focused, as we have in California, on $11 insulin — which is the only state in the country that does that — focusing more on getting those diapers in the hands of newborns and doing more on paid sick leave and family leave, doing more on universal healthcare,” Newsom said, adding that “no other state’s done more than us” on such measures.
He also cited childcare as part of what he called a “positive alternative and affirmative agenda.”
“And I think that, we would be better off,” he said, “but accountability across the board.”
Despite his caution on impeachment, Newsom made clear he believes the Trump administration deserves scrutiny. He broadened his call for accountability beyond the president to what he described as a wider circle of enablers.
“It’s not just Trump,” Newsom said. “It’s all the folks that are complicit in this great grift. It’s all the folks that are complicit in the rank corruption that is going on in this administration.”
He added: “Anyone that’s broken the law, anyone that’s taken advantage of the American people, picked their pocket illegally should be held to account.”
The interview comes as Democrats weigh their strategy ahead of the 2026 midterms, where control of the House is at stake. Some progressive voices have pushed for aggressive oversight and possible impeachment proceedings against Trump if the party regains a majority, while more moderate figures — including Newsom — have urged caution about overreaching.
Newsom’s comments echo a debate that has simmered within the Democratic Party since Trump’s first term, when two impeachment efforts against him ended in acquittal in the Senate. His latest remarks suggest he is wary of repeating what he sees as a politically costly exercise that could energize Republican voters while distracting from policy wins.
The governor’s emphasis on governing achievements rather than impeachment battles aligns with his broader messaging as he builds a national profile. He has frequently touted California’s progressive policy record while positioning himself as a pragmatist willing to criticize his own party’s tactics.
Newsom’s interview did not include specifics on what sort of facts would justify impeachment, nor did he outline any particular allegations he believes warrant investigation. Instead, he appeared to leave the door open to accountability efforts while insisting they be tied to concrete legal findings rather than political motivation.
The full interview is set to air later this week, and PBS did not immediately release additional excerpts beyond those highlighted by Breitbart.
Political analysts note that Newsom’s positioning could be aimed at appealing to general-election voters who are wary of endless partisan battles, even as he seeks to maintain credibility with progressives who demand aggressive checks on Trump.
Whether other Democratic leaders will follow Newsom’s lead remains an open question. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries has not publicly weighed in on impeachment prospects, and the party’s 2026 platform is still being shaped.
For now, Newsom’s message is clear: pursue evidence, but don’t let the pursuit become a self-defeating spectacle.
Source: www.breitbart.com — https://www.breitbart.com/clips/2026/09/07/newsom-dems-impeaching-trump-will-be-a-sideshow-and-a-distraction-but-should-go-wherever-the-facts-lead-i-dont-want-sideshow/