James Carville says Trump 'just walks away' after midterms, could get JD Vance pardon

James Carville suggested Trump may resign out of frustration post-midterms and rely on JD Vance for a potential legal pardon
UPDATED MAR 28, 2026
James Carville released a video saying Trump had lost public support and influence in Congress (Gregg DeGuire/Getty Images, Brandon Bell/Getty Images)
James Carville released a video saying Trump had lost public support and influence in Congress (Gregg DeGuire/Getty Images, Brandon Bell/Getty Images)

WASHINGTON, DC: James Carville, a veteran American political consultant and Democratic strategist, stood by his claim from March 18 that Donald Trump will resign after the midterms.

He insisted Trump will walk away out of frustration as he faces likely electoral losses.

James Carville predicts Trump will resign after midterms

Carville reiterated his claim on his podcast, 'Politics War Room.' He posted a follow-up video on Thursday, March 26, titled “Trump will be gone, sooner than you think,” seemingly referencing the phrase “Trump Always Chickens Out” (TACO), often used to mock Trump over incomplete or half-baked policy efforts

WASHINGTON, DC - FEBRUARY 13: U.S. President Donald Trump listens as Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi speaks during a joint press conference in the East Room at the White House on February 13, 2025 in Washington, DC. Prime Minister Modi is meeting with President Trump to discuss tariffs and trade relations in the wake of President Trump’s announcement on implementing reciprocal tariffs. (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images)
Carville said Trump might resign soon after the midterms amid political setbacks (Alex Wong/Getty Images)

Listener raises impeachment as a possibility for Trump

During the podcast, co-host Al Hunt and Carville took listener questions. One listener suggested that politicians would impeach Trump if they did their job.

Carville advised avoiding the word “impeachment,” saying it would serve Trump’s purpose by keeping him the focus of national attention. “Strike the word ‘impeachment’ from your vocabulary,” he told the listener. He added that it would only be Trump who removes himself from power.

“What I'm going to talk about is the possibility of resignation, because he doesn't know how much his life is getting ready to change post-November,” Carville said.

NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - OCTOBER 26: James Carville speaks onstage during the 2019 Politicon at Music City Center on October 26, 2019 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Jason Kempin/Getty Images for Politicon )
James Carville described Trump as 'soft' and predicted he could step down from the presidency (Jason Kempin/Getty Images for Politicon)

James Carville says Trump has lost public opinion and influence

Carville continued, “This guy's got two years to go. He's lost the whole public opinion. He's lost the whole Senate. He's lost the House. The lobbyists are going to start cutting deals on the other side.

“You've seen this a thousand times before. The guest list for every cocktail party is going to change. The Christmas party is coming up, and he’s just going to see that seeping out.” He further remarked that Trump will still be president but “his power is going to just ebb out.”

Highlighting Trump’s loosening grip on international affairs, Carville pointed to Germany’s Chancellor Friedrich Merz returning Trump’s call only after 72 hours.

James Carville suggests Trump should get JD Vance to pardon him

Vice President JD Vance speaks Friday, March 13, 2026, in Rocky Mount, N.C. (AP Photo/Chris Seward)
Podcast hosts suggested Trump should seek a pardon from Vice President JD Vance (AP Photo/Chris Seward)

Carville suggested Trump is “just soft” and said, “I think he just gets JD Vance to pardon him, and I think there's a good chance he just says ‘s**t’ and just walks away. It ain't worth it. That's the best I can do.” 

Co-host Hunt speculated that if Trump resigns and gets a pardon from Vance, he might also receive additional protection from prosecution after leaving office.

GET BREAKING U.S. NEWS & POLITICAL UPDATES
STRAIGHT TO YOUR INBOX.

MORE STORIES

Trace Gallagher suggested that Jimmy Kimmel became consumed by opposing Trump, with monologues focusing on legal battles and political outrage
6 hours ago
Mark Levin amplifies Trump's message by reposting Hormuz reopening announcement
8 hours ago
Harry Enten said that Democrats had a slight edge in senior voter preferences, but the shift was not large enough to signal a major realignment
1 day ago
DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin argued that statutory requirements, including legal representation and due process, contribute heavily to overall costs
1 day ago
Controversy follows 60 Minutes report on Pope Leo XIV and the Church's global stance
3 days ago
Bill O’Reilly said the outrage demonstrated that 'the media just hates Donald Trump and everything he does'
3 days ago
Shapiro says Trump still has strong GOP support despite criticism over Iran stance
5 days ago
The sketch drew from Melania Trump's real-life remarks when she publicly rejected any connection to Jeffrey Epstein or Ghislaine Maxwell
5 days ago
Co hosts raise doubts over Trump briefing as Iran talks began to collapse
5 days ago
Tucker Carlson accused Israel of blackmailing US presidents, saying Donald Trump faces intense pressure, though he admitted he is unsure of the claims
5 days ago