The 25th Amendment Won't Save Us from the Mad King
By: dianeravitch (Diane Ravitchs blog)
S E E D E D C O N T E N T
By dianeravitch April 7, 2026 // 0
Appalled by Trump's erratic behavior and his threats to commit war crimes in Iran-as he said in a news conference, to destroy every bridge and every power plant in Iran-many political commentators are calling for the implementation of the 25th Amendment to remove him from office.
Last night, Laurence O'Donnell devoted most of his news program on MS NOW to the claim that Trump is insane, and it is time to activate the 25th Amendment.
Trump's vulgar message to Iranian leaders, posted on Easter Sunday morning, set off a new round of demands to get this unhinged man out of the Oval Office, far away from the power to start a nuclear war on a whim.
After reading Trump's message, even former Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene, once close to Trump, wrote in a tweet:
Everyone in his administration that claims to be a Christian needs to fall on their knees and beg forgiveness from God and stop worshipping the President and intervene in Trump's madness.
I know all of you and him and he has gone insane, and all of you are complicit.
Certainly Democrats and most independents would like to see this menace to world peace, the global economy, democratic institutions, and national security removed from office. No doubt JD Vance, despite his sycophancy, quietly would love to be catapulted into the presidency.
BUT…..it's not going to happen.
To remove a President from office, the Vice President and a majority of his Cabinet must agree that the President is incapable of fulfilling the duties of his office.
Trump's Cabinet would never agree to remove him from office unless he did something unthinkable. They were chosen not for their competence, but for their personal loyalty to him. Can you imagine Pete Hegseth or wrestling queen Linda McMahon voting to remove Trump? The unthinkable that might change even their minds might be…Trump running around the White House grounds stark naked; Trump ordering the military to drop a nuclear bomb on some country, friend or foe, because they disrespected him; Trump ordering ICE or the FBI to murder his political enemies; Trump engaging contractors to demolish the entire White House so he can erect a high-rise replacement, with his name at the bottom and the top in flashing lights ….The possibilities are limited.
But let's imagine that Trump does something beyond my poor imagination, something so awful that a majority of his lackeys and sycophants vote to remove him.
That's not enough. Their recommendation goes to the Congress, where two-thirds of both Houses must approve his removal.
How likely is that?
I say zilch, unless a black swan happens to build a nest on his bleached blonde tresses. A black swan, you may recall, is a metaphor for a totally unprecedented event, one that almost no one anticipates.
The 25th Amendment is not going to remove Trump, because those around him and Republicans in Congress are afraid of him or idolize him. There is only one way to curb Trump's rage, incompetence, and boundless narcissism: Turn out the vote in November 2026. Sweep every Trump enabler out of office. Restore checks and balances. Elect a Congress that will investigate corruption, grifting, and profiteering. Elect a Congress that will stop his demolition of federal agencies and departments. Elect a Congress prepared to fight his attacks on enforcement of civil rights laws. Elect a Congress that will encourage and protect the votes of every citizen, not seek to suppress them.
The 25th Amendment will not save us. But a Congress devoted to the Constitution and to democracy can limit the damage that Trump has imposed on our government and on our relations with the rest of the world.
A historical note:
The National Constitution Center summarized the 25th Amendment, passed by Congress after the assassination of President John F. Kennedy.
AMENDMENT XXV. Passed by Congress July 6, 1965. Ratified February 10, 1967. Note: Article II, section 1, of the Constitution was affected by the 25th amendment.
The relevant content-removing a President who is unfit but unwilling to resign-is Section Four.
Section 4 addresses the dramatic case of a President who may be unable to fulfill his constitutional role but who cannot or will not step aside. It provides both a decision-maker and a procedure. The initial deciding group is the Vice President and a majority of either the Cabinet or some other body that Congress may designate (though Congress has never done so). If this group declares a President "unable to discharge the powers and duties of his office," the Vice President immediately becomes Acting President. If and when the President pronounces himself able, the deciding group has four days to disagree. If it does not, the President retakes his powers. But if it does, the Vice President keeps control while Congress quickly meets and makes a decision. The voting rule in these contested cases favors the President; the Vice President continues acting as President only if two-thirds majorities of both chambers agree that the President is unable to serve.
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I dont think the situation is quite as bleak as the article author thinks, but its pretty bleak. MAGAs in Congress have developed a full ability to deny reality.
I believe the author is correct in her assessment that really bad (irreparably so) shit must happen before these people wake up.
Due to the damage he has already done not only around the world, but to America and the American people, and what he has threatened he is about to do imminently, I think it's already too late.
But now this has just happened....
Trump says he agrees to 2-week Iran ceasefire after threatening destruction
LINK-> (1) Trump says he agrees to 2-week Iran ceasefire after threatening destruction - National | Globalnews.ca
Yes he has already done damage that will take a long time to overcome. The damage started with this trolling, threats, and tariffs against Canada and has continued every week this sick fuck has been PotUS.
Hope so. Gives Congress a chance to act. Will they this time??
But will lhe ceasefire include Iran instructing its proxies like Hezbollah, Hamas and the Houthies to obey the ceasefire as well?
Do you think Trump has a strategy? This ceasefire was his out. There is no grand plan here.
Right now, Buzz, I am just relieved that we are not going to see Trump go to the next level of lunacy.
What difference does that make?
Would you believe them anyway?
IMO this "ceasefire" and return to free passage for vessels through the Straits does not seem to be what we might think. For example, previously it was cost free for vessels to pass through, but I believe Iran intends to charge each vessel 2 million dollars to pass through.,
Agree 100%, but probably for a different reason.
This may be an American thing, or a Gen X thing, but I don't trust any of the reports yet.
There is too much money to be made getting people to click on the first story that the rush to be first FAR outweighs the desire to be accurate. I'm going to wait until tomorrow, read 5 or 6 sources, and then see what they all agree upon.
Maybe just wait to see what is accomplished in those "2 weeks", if anything. The discussion will not be about Trump's demands, but about the ten points required by Iran.
Yeah.... I dunno. Reports this morning from more respectable sources seem to indicate there is still a lot up in the air. Al Jazeera reported that Trump says the 10 point plan that was leaked is not the same one they gave him. Who knows?
I think you're right, it's going to be a wait and see situation.
This is, as usual, a seat-of-the-pants endeavor. Trump has demonstrated no ability to think strategically (and arguably, not even tactically). He is routinely all over the map, contradicting himself, changing his mind. He is a fine example of Peter-Principle incompetence.
And that would be tolerable if he were not also a dangerous loose-cannon psychopath who thinks he rules the planet and can do no wrong.
You're a master when it comes to superlatives, but there are still some unused adages, like "My way or the highway". LOL
I don't understand why so many people are constantly trying to "activate" the 25th Amendment - or similar verbiage. It's not like a fire alarm, where you just pull a switch and something amazing happens. It's like, they know the 25th exists, but apparently, don't have a clue how it works.
It not only requires the support of the Cabinet, but there is a lot of back and forth in the process. Like the Cabinet says "we think the president can't do his job" and the president can say "no, really, I'm good." And then we start over again with Congress (good luck getting Mike Johnson to allow a vote on that). In this specific case, Trump's whole cabinet (and the Speaker) is populated by people who are absolutely devoted to him. Heck, that's the reason they all have their jobs.
The 25th Amendment is probably the most difficult path to removing this president. It would probably be easier to impeach him after the next election.
Given the makeup of our current Congress, I believe you are entirely correct.
And apparently, those who could take action do not recognize the seriousness of the current situation.
BUT…..it's not going to happen.
Key takeaway. Its not going to happen. at least not yet.
The same people who want to arrest Trump and prosecute him for every imagined crime under the sun think he should be removed via the 25th Amendment because he isn't mentally competent to hold office.
Can't make it up.
Who knows, maybe if enough shit is thrown against the wall something may eventually stick
Signed,
Hillary Clinton
The radical rightists went after her for 25 years and never charged her with so much as parking ticket.
The 25th Amendment is not workable with this president. Any cabinet member who even hinted at it would be fired immediately.
And the next day, they’d be arrested for treason.