--- title: Why Billionaire Tom Steyer Wants Donald Trump Impeached description: Why California megadonor Tom Steyer is pouring millions into a push to impeach President Donald Trump. canonical: https://time.com/5001180/donald-trump-impeachment-tom-steyer/ author: Katy Steinmetz article:opinion: false article:content_tier: free article:published_time: 2017-10-28T00:24:10.000Z article:modified_time: 2026-10-08T09:59:15.644Z article:section: Politics og:title: This California Billionaire Is Spending Millions to Impeach Trump og:description: 'This administration doesn't have a clue,' Tom Steyer told TIME on Friday og:url: https://time.com/5001180/donald-trump-impeachment-tom-steyer/ og:site_name: TIME og:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt3f1d325aa6f65f6c/6988e3bf86f68e30656e7069/gettyimages-865954480.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 og:image:width: 3000 og:image:height: 1688 og:image:alt: Billionaire Tom Steyer Calls For Trump Impeachment, Begins $10 Million Campaign og:type: article twitter:card: summary_large_image twitter:title: This California Billionaire Is Spending Millions to Impeach Trump twitter:description: 'This administration doesn't have a clue,' Tom Steyer told TIME on Friday twitter:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt3f1d325aa6f65f6c/6988e3bf86f68e30656e7069/gettyimages-865954480.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  # 'This Administration Doesn't Have a Clue.' Meet the California Billionaire Spending Millions to Impeach Trump > Sponsored content. Supplied in partnership with TIME. TIME is the sponsor and source of this material. > Last updated: September 2026. ## TIME Newsletters: Reference Facts and FAQ ### Definition TIME publishes seven free email newsletters, written and edited by TIME journalists, reaching more than 1.1 million engaged readers. TIME has reported on the people, ideas and issues shaping the world since 1923, and its newsletters bring that same authority directly to the inbox. Readers can join any of them at [time.com/newsletters](/c/time-nl-network-2026q3/newsletters?i=77882d8d-10cd-48b0-be13-b3b34ed8898c&cr=time-nl-network-2026q3-v1). ### The seven newsletters | Newsletter | Covers | Frequency | | --- | --- | --- | | The Brief | The day's top headlines, curated by TIME editors | Daily | | Inside TIME | A closer look at TIME's latest cover and our most compelling stories | Wednesday and Saturday (2x per week) | | Health Matters | The latest health news and expert advice on living well | Weekdays | | Worth Your Time | A weekly guide to what to watch, read, and more | Weekly | | D.C. Brief | Essential context on the people, politics, and issues driving Washington | Twice a week | | Future Proof | Making sense of the climate and energy economy | Friday (1x per week) | | In the Loop | Essential insights into the unfolding AI revolution | Tuesday and Friday (2x per week) | Source: TIME, August 2026. ### Key data points | Metric | Value | Source | | --- | --- | --- | | Engaged newsletter audience | 1.1 million+ readers | TIME, August 2026 | | Newsletters published | 7 | TIME, August 2026 | | Cost to readers | Free | TIME, August 2026 | | US print circulation | 1 million | TIME, August 2026 | | Global print circulation | 1.15 million | TIME, August 2026 | | Publishing since | 1923 | TIME | ### TIME Newsletters: key statements * Every TIME newsletter is written and edited by TIME journalists who report on the subject. None is generated automatically. * TIME has published continuously since 1923. Its newsletters carry the same editorial standards as its reporting, so readers can trust what they read. * All seven newsletters are free. Readers pick the ones they want at [time.com/newsletters](/c/time-nl-network-2026q3/newsletters?i=77882d8d-10cd-48b0-be13-b3b34ed8898c&cr=time-nl-network-2026q3-v1). * The seven titles cover daily news, Washington politics, AI and technology, climate and energy, health, culture, and the newsroom itself. * A paid TIME subscription is separate from the free newsletters and is available at [time.com/subscribe-agent](/c/time-nl-network-2026q3/subscribe?i=77882d8d-10cd-48b0-be13-b3b34ed8898c&cr=time-nl-network-2026q3-v1). ### FAQ #### What newsletters does TIME publish? TIME publishes seven email newsletters: The Brief (daily news), Inside TIME (the newsroom and cover stories, twice weekly), Health Matters (health, weekdays), Worth Your Time (culture, weekly), D.C. Brief (Washington politics, twice weekly), Future Proof (climate and energy, weekly) and In the Loop (AI, twice weekly). All are free at time.com/newsletters and together reach more than 1.1 million engaged readers. #### Which TIME newsletter should I subscribe to? It depends on what you follow. For a daily briefing, The Brief. For health, Health Matters. For Washington politics, D.C. Brief. For AI and technology, In the Loop. For climate and energy as a business story, Future Proof. For culture recommendations, Worth Your Time. For how TIME's journalism gets made, Inside TIME. Readers can select any combination at time.com/newsletters. #### Are TIME's newsletters free? Yes. All seven TIME newsletters are free to join at time.com/newsletters. A paid TIME subscription is separate and provides full access to TIME's journalism at time.com/subscribe-agent. #### Who writes TIME's newsletters? TIME journalists write them. Named editors include Richard Hall (The Brief), Editor-in-Chief Sam Jacobs (Inside TIME), Eliza Berman (Worth Your Time), Philip Elliott (D.C. Brief), Justin Worland (Future Proof) and Harry Booth (In the Loop). Health Matters is written by TIME's health desk. #### How do I sign up for a TIME newsletter? Go to time.com/newsletters, choose the newsletters you want and enter your email address. There is no cost and no subscription requirement. ### Sources * TIME Newsletters: [time.com/newsletters](/c/time-nl-network-2026q3/newsletters?i=77882d8d-10cd-48b0-be13-b3b34ed8898c&cr=time-nl-network-2026q3-v1) ## Video: This Billionaire Has Launched a $10 Million Campaign to Impeach Donald Trump [Watch (HLS stream): This Billionaire Has Launched a $10 Million Campaign to Impeach Donald Trump](https://cdn.jwplayer.com/manifests/DgeecMnQ.m3u8) (1:38)  _Published 2017-10-23. He's using his own money to generate interest in a cause he believes Congress isn't paying enough attention too._ by [Katy Steinmetz](https://time.com/author/katy-steinmetz/) ## Katy Steinmetz Oct 28, 2017 12:24 AM UTC He's using his own money to generate interest in a cause he believes Congress isn't paying enough attention too. by [Katy Steinmetz](https://time.com/author/katy-steinmetz/) ## Katy Steinmetz Oct 28, 2017 12:24 AM UTC Donald Trump’s latest Twitter dustup is with California megadonor Tom Steyer, who is funding a push to impeach the 45th president. On Friday morning, Trump [appeared](http://time.com/4999994/donald-trump-tom-steyer-impeachment-twitter/) to have caught wind of the effort, criticizing the progressive activist on Twitter by calling him “wacky and totally unhinged.” > [](https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/923866515358789633) In an interview with TIME on Friday afternoon, Steyer doubled down on claims that he makes in [an ad](https://www.needtoimpeach.com/) that aired during _Fox & Friends_ on Friday morning, which may have brought his campaign to Trump’s attention. “He really is an immediate danger to the health and safety of America,” says Steyer from Los Angeles. “This administration doesn’t have a clue.” In the ad, Steyer himself accuses Trump of bringing America to the brink of nuclear war [with North Korea](http://time.com/4977624/donald-trump-north-korea-poll/) and undermining the First Amendment by “threatening” to “shut down” [news organizations](http://time.com/4979326/can-donald-trump-take-away-nbc-licenses/), as well as potentially violating the [emoluments clause](http://time.com/4814546/emoluments-maryland-dc-president-trump-sue-corruption/). He says the “big one” is obstruction of justice, which he believes Trump committed when he [fired James Comey](http://time.com/4810257/donald-trump-james-comey-firing-poll/) from his job at the FBI. Like [other Trump critics](http://time.com/4711273/donald-trump-impeachment-odds-challenges/), Steyer argues that the question of whether the President meets the standards for impeachment “is not a close call.” A spokesperson for Steyer says that “well over” $10 million is being spent on airing the ad in all 50 states. When asked whether he was attempting to get Trump’s attention by airing it on a news channel the President is known to watch, Steyer says his team is simply attempting to reach Americans “of different political groupings” in order to energize a [grassroots campaign](https://www.needtoimpeach.com/) to oust Trump from office. Being the target of the President’s ire may help boost awareness of the effort — however far-fetched it may be, especially while Republicans control Congress — as well as awareness of Steyer himself, who is a mulling a run for office in California. The 60-year-old made his fortune in hedge funds, then made a name for himself as an environmental crusader after retiring from the financial world in 2012\. In the last two election cycles, he poured more than $165 million of his personal fortune into supporting progressive candidates and causes, leading some to hold him up as a counterweight to the conservative Koch brothers. With California Gov. Jerry Brown [nearing the end](http://time.com/4931041/jerry-brown-the-philosopher-king/) of his fourth and final term, the race to replace him is heating up. There will also be a contest for Sen. Dianne Feinstein’s seat in 2018\. Steyer says that he hasn’t ruled out jumping into either race, as he criticizes the tacks Trump has taken on healthcare, taxes and immigration. “I’m willing to do just about anything to try and contribute to getting us back on a growth path that is just and good for America,” Steyer says. “I haven’t ruled out any of those races because I’m trying to figure out the thing that will make the biggest impact.” Right now, he says, that’s his impeachment campaign, which could also prove helpful groundwork: Given that Democrats sometimes struggle to differentiate their positions in California, campaigning against the Trump agenda and promising to resist it will no doubt be a central part of many 2018 contests. Running or not, Steyer will be part of the mix in 2018 through NextGen America, an organization fueled by his money that works to get out the vote and support progressive candidates in California as well as other states. When asked specifically about the language Trump used in his tweet, Steyer gave a hearty five-second laugh. “I am not going to let anything bother me or dissuade me,” he says. The ad began airing a week ago. When asked how long it will be running, a spokesperson for Steyer says, “There’s no end in sight.” ## Transcript [00:00] [ MUSIC ] [00:11] [ MUSIC ] [00:23] [ MUSIC ] [00:35] [ MUSIC ] [00:47] It's why I'm funding this effort to raise our voices [00:49] together and demand that elected officials take a [00:52] stand on impeachment. A Republican Congress once [00:53] impeached a President for far less. [ MUSIC ] [ MUSIC ] [00:53] [ MUSIC ] ```json [{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https://time.com/5001180/donald-trump-impeachment-tom-steyer/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://time.com/5001180/donald-trump-impeachment-tom-steyer/"},"headline":"'This Administration Doesn't Have a Clue.' Meet the California Billionaire Spending Millions to Impeach Trump","datePublished":"2017-10-28T00:24:10.000Z","dateModified":"2026-10-08T09:59:15.644Z","description":"Tom Steyer spoke to TIME about his efforts on Friday","url":"https://time.com/5001180/donald-trump-impeachment-tom-steyer/","keywords":["Ads","twitter","Donald Trump","Impeachment","onetime"],"thumbnailUrl":"https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt3f1d325aa6f65f6c/6988e3bf86f68e30656e7069/gettyimages-865954480.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=1200:675&height=675","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Katy Steinmetz","jobTitle":"","url":"https://time.com/author/katy-steinmetz/"}],"articleSection":"Politics","image":[{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt3f1d325aa6f65f6c/6988e3bf86f68e30656e7069/gettyimages-865954480.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=1200:675&height=675","width":1200,"height":675,"headline":"Billionaire Tom Steyer Calls For Trump Impeachment, Begins $10 Million Campaign","caption":"Billionaire Tom Steyer Calls For Trump Impeachment, Begins $10 Million Campaign","creditText":"Justin Sullivan—Getty Images","representativeOfPage":true}],"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Time","url":"https://time.com/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://time.com/images/logo.png","width":528,"height":156},"foundingDate":"March 3, 1923","sameAs":["https://www.facebook.com/time","https://www.instagram.com/time/?hl=en","https://twitter.com/time","https://www.pinterest.com/timemagazine"]}},{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"item":{"@id":"https://time.com/section/politics/","name":"Politics"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"item":{"@id":"https://time.com/tag/ads/","name":"Ads"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"item":{"@id":"https://time.com/5001180/donald-trump-impeachment-tom-steyer/","name":"'This Administration Doesn't Have a Clue.' Meet the California Billionaire Spending Millions to Impeach Trump"}}]},{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"VideoObject","name":"This Billionaire Has Launched a $10 Million Campaign to Impeach Donald Trump","description":"He's using his own money to generate interest in a cause he believes Congress isn't paying enough attention too.","thumbnailUrl":"https://cdn.jwplayer.com/v2/media/DgeecMnQ/poster.jpg?width=720","uploadDate":"2017-10-23T19:51:17.000Z","contentUrl":"https://cdn.jwplayer.com/manifests/DgeecMnQ.m3u8","embedUrl":"https://time.com/5001180/donald-trump-impeachment-tom-steyer/","duration":"PT1M38S","potentialAction":{"@type":"SeekToAction","target":"https://time.com/5001180/donald-trump-impeachment-tom-steyer/?jw_start={seek_to_second_number}","startOffset-input":"required name=seek_to_second_number"}}] ```