A wave of Democrats on Tuesday called to remove President Trump from office over his threats against Iran ahead of an 8 p.m. EDT Tuesday deadline for Tehran to cut a deal and reopen the Strait of Hormuz according to emerging reports.
Lawmakers invoked both the 25th Amendment and impeachment as possible mechanisms to strip the president of his powers.
'Donald Trump is openly threatening war crimes against the entirety of Iranian civilization. 25th Amendment proceedings must begin immediately, but if the Cabinet is too cowardly, the House should begin the impeachment process now,' Rep. Diana DeGette (D-Colo.) posted on social platform X, referencing Trump's Tuesday morning post.
What Did Trump Say That Sparked the Outrage?
Trump posted on Truth Social Tuesday morning that 'a whole civilization will die tonight, never to be brought back again' if Iran does not meet the deadline to reopen the critical shipping channel. That followed his threats over the weekend and on Monday to attack bridges and power plants in Iran, which some international experts warn would be tantamount to a war crime.
His comments escalated rhetoric that has drawn sharp condemnation from Democratic lawmakers, who argue the president is unfit to hold office.
What Are Democrats Saying About the 25th Amendment?
Sen. Ed Markey (D-Mass.) called on the House to begin impeachment proceedings, calling Trump's post 'completely unstable and perilous.' 'The House must bring up impeachment articles, and the Senate needs to remove a president who wants to commit war crimes. We cannot sit idly by as Donald Trump threatens to end an entire civilization,' Markey said.
The 25th Amendment to the Constitution allows the vice president and a majority of the Cabinet to declare a president 'unable to discharge the powers and the duties of his office,' making the vice president acting president. A dispute from the president would send the question to Congress, requiring a two-thirds vote of both chambers to remove him. No Cabinet has ever invoked the 25th Amendment against a president.
Rep. Mark Pocan (D-Wis.) posted: '25th Amendment RIGHT NOW! Trump is too unhinged, dangerous, and deranged to have the nuclear codes!'
What Other Democrats Called for Removal?
Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.) posted: 'After bombing a school and massacring young girls, the war criminal in the White House is threatening genocide. It's time to invoke the 25th Amendment. This maniac should be removed from office.'
Rep. Melanie Stansbury (D-N.M.) said: 'This is why the 25th Amendment and impeachment were created. These aren't policy differences. He is threatening crimes. It's time to invoke the 25th. But we can't do it alone-we need our Republican colleagues to do the right thing.'
Rep. Ayanna Pressley (D-Mass.) said: 'This is a horrifying threat of genocidal war crimes. The lives of civilians and service members alike are at stake here. Congress must stop this war and remove Trump from the White House.'
Demos also calling for removal included Reps. Summer Lee (Pa.), Andrea Salinas (Ore.) and Bonnie Watson Coleman (N.J.).
How Did the White House Respond?
The White House responded by calling the Democrats' remarks 'pathetic.' 'Democrats have been talking about removing President Trump since before he was even sworn into office. The Democrats in Congress are deranged, weak, and ineffective, which is why their approval ratings are at historic lows,' White House spokesperson Davis Ingle said.
What Is House Minority Leader Jeffries' Position?
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) did not call to remove Trump from office, but he said, 'It's time for every single Republican to put patriotic duty over party and stop the madness.' Democrats intend to call up a resolution to limit Trump's war powers in Iran when Congress is back in session next week.
What Is the Impeachment Process?
It takes a majority vote of the House to impeach a president and a two-thirds vote in the Senate to convict and remove the president. Trump has been impeached twice before but was acquitted both times and remained in office.
FAQs: Democrats' Removal Calls
Q: What did Trump say that triggered the response?
A: He posted that 'a whole civilization will die tonight' if Iran doesn't meet the 8 p.m. deadline.
Q: What is the 25th Amendment?
A: It allows the vice president and Cabinet to declare a president unable to serve, making the VP acting president.
Q: Who called for removal?
A: Reps. DeGette, Tlaib, Pressley, Stansbury, Pocan, Lee, Salinas, Watson Coleman, and Sen. Markey.
Q: What did the White House say?
A: Called Democrats 'deranged, weak and ineffective' with 'historic low' approval ratings.
Q: What did Jeffries say?
A: He didn't call for removal but urged Republicans to 'stop the madness.'
Q: Has the 25th Amendment ever been invoked against a president?
A: No. No Cabinet has ever declared a president incapable of serving.
Disclaimer: This information is based on inputs from news agency reports. TSG does not independently confirm the information provided by the relevant sources.