On Tuesday, House Democrats put forth a proposal to establish a commission that would collaborate with JD Vance to potentially remove Donald Trump from the presidency under the 25th Amendment, should it be determined that he is unfit for the role.
This initiative, spearheaded by Jamie Raskin, the leading Democrat on the House Judiciary Committee, comes in response to a series of controversial statements made by Trump. Among these were his alarming remark that Iran’s “whole civilization will die” if it does not comply with his demands, as well as a social media post where he likened himself to Jesus Christ.
Democratic lawmakers and critics, including former CIA Director John Brennan, have highlighted these statements to argue that the 79-year-old president is no longer capable of effectively leading the nation. They assert that the U.S. vice president should collaborate with Trump’s cabinet to facilitate his removal from office.
“The public’s confidence in Donald Trump’s ability to perform his presidential duties has plummeted to unprecedented levels as he threatens to annihilate entire civilizations, creates turmoil in the Middle East while disregarding congressional war powers, disparages the Pope of the Catholic Church, and shares artistic portrayals online that equate him with Jesus Christ,” Raskin remarked in a statement.
“We find ourselves at a critical juncture, and it is essential for Congress to fulfill its obligations under the 25th Amendment to safeguard the American populace from an increasingly unstable and unpredictable situation.”
A total of fifty other Democratic representatives have joined Raskin in co-sponsoring the bill, which faces significant challenges in the Republican-majority chamber. While some Republicans have indicated a willingness to oppose Trump’s policies, none have expressed serious doubts regarding his capability to serve as president.
The 25th Amendment of the Constitution outlines the procedures for a vice president to assume the presidency in the event of the president’s death or resignation. It also details how the vice president, along with a majority of the cabinet, can remove the president if they believe he is “unable to discharge the powers and duties” of the office.
Raskin pointed out that the vice president can also make this determination in conjunction with an unspecified “body” authorized by Congress. His proposal aims to create a commission focused on evaluating the president’s capacity to fulfill his responsibilities, consisting of four retired executive branch officials selected by the leaders of both parties in Congress. This group could include former presidents, vice presidents, surgeons general, and certain cabinet members.
Additionally, Congress’s leaders would appoint four physicians and four psychiatrists to this commission, which would select a 17th member to serve as its chair. None of the commission members would be current government employees or elected officials.
“This commission should have been established by Congress when the 25th Amendment was ratified in 1967. With 535 members of Congress and just one president, this body is an essential component for ensuring a successful continuity of government,” Raskin asserted.
In 2024, similar calls were made regarding Joe Biden following his underwhelming debate performance against Trump, which raised concerns about his age and ultimately led him to withdraw from the presidential race. Several House Republicans introduced resolutions urging Kamala Harris, then the vice president, to convene the cabinet for Biden’s removal, but these resolutions were never brought to a vote.
Trump went on to win the presidential election against Harris that year.
