Democrats Want Trump Out
Democrats have been itching to boot Trump since day one. After the Capitol chaos on January 6, 2021, and Trump’s bizarre Greenland ambitions, calls for the 25th Amendment resurfaced. Senator Ed Markey and others like Reps. Yassamin Ansari and Melanie Stansbury are all for it.
Trump’s unhinged Easter rant about bombing Iran’s infrastructure didn’t help his case. Senator Chris Murphy suggested Trump’s Cabinet should be on the phone with constitutional lawyers. Meanwhile, Trump continues to stir the pot on social media, daring Iran with a profanity-laced threat.
Republicans Have Their Own 25th Amendment Fantasy
Not to be outdone, some Republicans want Biden out. They pounced after a special counsel’s report on Biden’s ‘poor memory’ and his less-than-stellar debate performance in June 2024. But like Trump’s case, it’s all talk and no action.
Trump’s got Vice President JD Vance and his Cabinet firmly in his corner. Most Republicans in Congress are still singing his praises, making the 25th Amendment invocation a long shot.
The 25th Amendment: A Legal Long Shot
The 25th Amendment, born in 1967, was meant to tackle presidential vacancies and incapacity. Section four is the juicy part, letting the VP and Cabinet declare a president unfit. But the bar is high: two-thirds of Congress must agree.
The amendment’s authors, like Sen. Birch Bayh and Rep. Richard Poff, aimed for clarity on physical and mental incapacity. But it’s not a tool for political disagreements. Despite its vague wording, it’s not meant for unpopular decisions. So, don’t hold your breath for a Trump or Biden ouster via this route.
Quick Facts
- •💡 Democrats have repeatedly called for invoking the 25th Amendment against Trump.
- •💡 Trump’s Easter rant about Iran sparked new calls for his removal.
- •💡 The 25th Amendment requires the VP and a majority of the Cabinet to declare a president unfit.
- •💡 The amendment was ratified in 1967 following JFK’s assassination.
- •💡 Invoking the 25th Amendment is unlikely due to political support for Trump.