Lawmakers Renew Calls to Invoke 25th Amendment Amid Concerns Over President Trump's Fitness
Lawmakers urged the Vice President and Cabinet to invoke Section 4 of the 25th Amendment after President Trump's texts and rapid posts raised fitness concerns.
Overview
Who: Democratic lawmakers including Rep. Yassamin Ansari, Sen. Ed Markey and Rep. Sydney Kamlager-Dove urged invoking the amendment following texts from President Trump to Norway's prime minister and other posts.
What: Section 4 permits the vice president and a majority of Cabinet to declare a president 'unable,' making the vice president the acting president until resolved.
How: If the vice president and Cabinet transmit a written declaration, the vice president becomes acting president immediately; the president can contest, and Congress has 21 days to decide.
Likelihood: Scholars say modern practice requires most Cabinet heads' agreement; no relevant Cabinet member has publicly supported removal, and Republican leaders show no sign of pursuing invocation.
Context: Sections 1-3 were used for succession and planned medical transfers; Section 4 has never been invoked. Critics cite texts and rapid posts as reasons for concern.
Analysis
Center-leaning sources largely present a neutral, explanatory account of the 25th Amendment, but introduce mild negative framing by paraphrasing opponents' views as 'erratic behavior' and emphasizing Democratic calls for removal. Language choices and example selection (Greenland episode) foreground questions about Trump's fitness more than countervailing defenses or Republican perspectives.
Sources (3)
FAQ
Section 4 allows the Vice President and a majority of the principal officers of the executive departments (Cabinet) to declare the President unable to discharge their duties, making the Vice President the Acting President immediately upon written declaration to Congress.
The President can transmit a written declaration that no inability exists; if the VP and majority Cabinet do not contest within 4 days, the President resumes powers. Otherwise, Congress assembles within 48 hours and decides within 21 days by two-thirds vote in both houses.
Democratic lawmakers including Rep. Yassamin Ansari, Sen. Ed Markey, and Rep. Sydney Kamlager-Dove.
Concerns over President Trump's texts to Norway's prime minister and rapid social media posts, raising questions about his fitness to serve.
No, Section 4 has never been invoked in U.S. history, though it was considered after events like the Reagan assassination attempt and the 2021 Capitol attack.
History
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