All articles tagged with #25th amendment
California Gov. Gavin Newsom sparked a partisan clash by calling for invoking the 25th Amendment to remove Donald Trump over alleged cognitive impairment, prompting GOP pushback while Democrats frame it as a serious check ahead of the 2026 midterms.
A video showing President Trump looking sleepy and slumping during a White House event prompts discussions of invoking the 25th Amendment, with Democratic Rep. Yassamin Ansari among those advocating removal on the grounds that he cannot discharge the duties of the presidency. At 79, Trump’s health and fitness for office become a focal point as debates over his ability to lead intensify.
Trump’s Oval Office appearance included moments critics highlighted as concerning, including a sleepy demeanor and a claim about winning all 50 states. Lawmakers and pundits pressed for invoking the 25th Amendment to deem him unable to perform duties, calling it a national-security issue, while the White House pushed back and supporters urged continued independent reporting.
Robert Reich argues that Trump’s approaching 80, ongoing health disclosures, and odd behavior raise serious concerns about his ability to fulfill the presidency. Citing multiple doctor visits, shifting medical explanations, and rising public worry in polls, he contends that physical and mental fitness are intertwined for a leader and suggests invoking the 25th Amendment or impeachment as safer options for the nation.
Harvard Law emeritus Alan Dershowitz argues that Democrats’ push to invoke the 25th Amendment against President Trump is unconstitutional and misuses a safeguard designed for objective incapacity, not political disagreement; treating it as a partisan weapon would erode the amendment and set a dangerous precedent for future presidents.
Ranking Member Jamie Raskin introduced a bipartisan bill to create the Commission on Presidential Capacity to discharge the powers of the presidency under Section 4 of the 25th Amendment. The independent body would work with the Vice President, with 16 members (four retired executive-branch officials from each side and four physicians and four psychiatrists from each party) selecting a 17th chair. It could be activated by Congress through a concurrent resolution, and if incapacity is found, the Vice President would become Acting President. The proposal aims to ensure continuity of government amid concerns about the President’s cognitive fitness and volatile public remarks, and follows Raskin’s call for a formal evaluation.”,
House Democrats introduced a bill to form a 17-member presidential-capacity commission, including four physicians and four psychiatrists, to determine whether Trump is unable to discharge the powers and duties of the presidency under the 25th Amendment and would coordinate with the vice president and cabinet, with JD Vance as a key partner; the effort faces long odds in a Republican-led House and follows recent controversial Trump statements.
Democrats introduced a 10-page bill to create a 17-member Section 4 commission that would medically evaluate the president for incapacity; with appointments split between Democrats and Republicans and a chair chosen by the panel, the findings could lead to temporary removal if the vice president agrees, followed by a two-thirds congressional vote for permanent removal—an unlikely outcome even if the measure advances.
Former CIA Director John Brennan argues that President Trump is unfit for office and that the 25th Amendment was written with him in mind, citing Trump’s volatile Iran threats. More than 70 Democrats have supported invoking the amendment, though its chances are slim due to cabinet loyalty and presidential backing. Brennan is also under an ongoing DOJ inquiry, a context that underscores the political sting of his call in contrast to past related prosecutions (Comey’s charges were later dropped).
Amid Trump’s threats over Iran, top MAGA figures and media voices are breaking with him or calling for drastic interventions, signaling a widening rift in the MAGA media ecosystem. Candace Owens and Marjorie Taylor Greene urged invoking the 25th Amendment, while others like Alex Jones and Tucker Carlson pushed back, illustrating deep divisions over Iran policy. The debate extends to scrutiny of foreign influence funding and possible DOJ investigations, with the White House largely absent from coordinating Iran messaging for the online right.
After Trump’s threat to wipe out Iran, Democrats publicly pressed for accountability, urging removal via impeachment or the 25th Amendment, while pushing for war-powers legislation that would require congressional approval for further strikes; with Republicans in control of Congress, a removal push remains unlikely, though constituent calls and base pressure are mounting.
In response to President Trump’s threats over Iran, Democratic lawmakers are pondering actions to remove him—potentially via impeachment or the 25th Amendment—driven by constituent fear and concerns about national security, though there is no unified push in the Republican-leaning House. Some lawmakers urge immediate accountability, while others favor a cautious approach, reflecting a broader struggle over how the party should respond to the president’s confrontational rhetoric.
Silicon Valley lawmakers Ro Khanna, Zoe Lofgren, and Sam Liccardo are pressuring to initiate removal proceedings under the 25th Amendment in response to President Trump’s Iran-war remarks, arguing the president’s behavior threatens national and global security even after a Pakistan-brokered ceasefire; the delegation has scheduled a briefing on the amendment and related War Powers actions, reflecting significant Democratic opposition to Trump’s conduct.
Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker calls for invoking the 25th Amendment to remove President Trump after incendiary posts about Iran, a stance echoed by some allies and critics amid rising U.S.-Iran tensions; the digest also highlights Chicago mayoral fundraising dynamics as the election approaches.
The Vox explainer argues that while the 25th Amendment has triggered attention, it’s not a practical route to remove President Trump: it requires a cabinet majority and a two‑thirds vote in both houses, an almost insurmountable hurdle in today’s polarized politics. By comparison, parliamentary democracies can remove leaders more easily, so the United States is unlikely to oust Trump before 2029 via the 25th Amendment.