Efforts to remove President Trump from office gained momentum this week as lawmakers began exploring the use of the Constitution’s 25th Amendment—a move that could place JD Vance in the presidency.
On Tuesday, Representative Jamie Raskin introduced legislation connected to invoking the 25th Amendment. The Maryland Democrat pointed to what he described as Trump’s increasingly erratic behavior, including his threat that Iran’s “entire civilization” could be destroyed, as justification for considering his removal.
Although the 25th Amendment has been used before when presidents were temporarily unable to perform their duties—such as during medical procedures—it has never actually been used to force a president out of office.
That is partly because the most controversial part of the amendment has never truly been tested, and partly because Raskin’s proposal follows a long and difficult route—one that would ultimately require Vice President Vance to step into the role.
The bill, backed by Raskin and around 50 House Democrats, would create a commission made up of members of Congress, former executive branch officials, and medical professionals. Their task would be to evaluate whether Trump’s recent actions meet the standard required to trigger the 25th Amendment.
This approach is different from earlier efforts to remove Trump, including two impeachment attempts that failed in the Senate. Instead of moving directly toward removal, Raskin’s plan is designed to build a broader case first.
In a public statement, Raskin argued that confidence in Trump’s ability to carry out the duties of office had fallen to historic lows. He cited Trump’s threats toward foreign nations, his handling of tensions in the Middle East, his attacks on the Pope, and even online imagery comparing himself to Jesus Christ as signs of an increasingly unstable presidency.
Raskin warned that the country was approaching a dangerous point and said Congress had a constitutional duty to act under the 25th Amendment in order to protect national security and the American people.
So what exactly is the 25th Amendment?
The 25th Amendment explains what happens when a president dies, resigns, or becomes unable to carry out the responsibilities of office. Ratified in 1967 after the assassination of President John F. Kennedy, it clarifies the role of the vice president in those situations.
Under the amendment, the vice president automatically becomes president if the sitting president dies, resigns, or is removed. The new president then selects a vice president, who must be approved by both houses of Congress.
It also allows a president to temporarily transfer authority to the vice president, such as during surgery or another medical condition, and then take that power back afterward.
The most significant section for Trump’s critics is Section 4, which allows a president to be removed involuntarily if the vice president and a majority of the Cabinet agree that the president is unable to fulfill the duties of office. Even then, Congress would still need a two-thirds vote to confirm that removal.
Raskin’s proposal is meant to build support for that possibility by first creating a commission to decide whether Section 4 should even be considered.
Will it actually happen?
Although it may seem unlikely that a Republican-controlled Congress and Trump’s own Cabinet would agree to remove him, calls for action have grown louder in recent days.
Former CIA Director John Brennan, a longtime Trump critic, said the 25th Amendment seemed almost designed for someone like Trump. He argued that it was dangerous to leave control of the military—and even nuclear capabilities—in the hands of someone making such extreme threats. Brennan said the country was living through deeply troubling times.
Interestingly, calls for action have not come only from Trump’s traditional critics. Even Alex Jones, the InfoWars host and one-time MAGA ally, publicly questioned whether Trump should be removed under the 25th Amendment.