{
  "id": 15086917,
  "title": "Trump weighs pursuing action against Clinton, Obama if Democrats renew impeachment efforts",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/17/trump-weighs-pursuing-action-against-clinton-obama-if-democrats-renew",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-17T01:26:54.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Jerusalem Post",
    "slug": "jerusalem-post",
    "url": "https://www.jpost.com/american-politics/article-911946"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "US President Donald Trump suggested during an interview that he might pursue criminal investigations or release damaging information about former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, former Presidents Barack Obama and Joe Biden if Democrats decide to impeach him for a third time. This possibility emerged as Democrats aim to retake control of Congress in the upcoming November 3 midterm elections.\n\nTrump claimed he had previously declined to take action against his political opponents, but indicated he could reconsider if Democrats regain control of the House of Representatives. He stated he could \"do numbers\" on Clinton, Obama, and Biden, referring to potential criminal investigations or damage to their reputations. Trump noted he was discussing taking \"big numbers\" if he wanted to.\n\nThe administration reportedly holds potentially damaging information about Clinton, Obama, and Biden, though no specifics were provided. When asked if he intended to act on this information, Trump appeared to leave the door open, saying \"probably not\" but adding that if they impeach him again, \"things could get ugly.\"\n\nThis stance followed Trump's previous remarks at an Oval Office event on October 7, where he said he had refrained from pursuing political opponents out of respect for the presidency. Democrats, meanwhile, are weighing impeachment as they seek to regain the House of Representatives in the midterm elections. While House Democratic leaders have not committed to pursuing impeachment, Trump questioned what grounds Democrats could use for another impeachment effort, suggesting they could only impeach him for strong governance. He also argued that his previous impeachment proceedings had not damaged his standing with supporters, even suggesting the anti-impeachment movement could benefit Republicans politically.",
  "summary": "Trump claimed to possess damaging information about Clinton, Obama, Biden, and three other Democrats, suggesting he could act against them if Democrats launch a third impeachment effort.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": "The president's threat to weaponize potentially damaging information against political rivals signals a shift toward using federal investigative powers as a retaliatory tool against congressional impeachment efforts.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 4,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "The Mainichi",
        "title": "Trump wants the midterms to be all about himself. Democrats seem happy to oblige",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/17/trump-wants-the-midterms-to-be-all-about-himself-democrats-seem-happy",
        "published": "2026-10-17T02:00:13.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "El Pais English",
        "title": "Abdul El‑Sayed, the Democrats’ riskiest bet for the midterms: ‘We will have to hold Trump accountable for all the harm he has done’",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/17/abdul-el-sayed-the-democrats-riskiest-bet-for-the-midterms-we-will",
        "published": "2026-10-17T04:00:00.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Ajel English",
        "title": "Iran’s Revolutionary Guard seeks to provoke Trump ahead of US midterms, analyst says",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/17/irans-revolutionary-guard-seeks-to-provoke-trump-ahead-of-us-midterms",
        "published": "2026-10-17T04:28:13.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}