In an extraordinary move, U.S. Senator Ed Markey, a Democrat from Massachusetts, has publicly urged Vice President JD Vance and members of President Donald Trump's Cabinet to initiate proceedings to remove the president from office. This call to action cites the 25th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution and follows Trump's latest controversial statements regarding Greenland.
The Trigger: A Letter and a Nobel Prize Snub
The immediate catalyst was a letter from Trump to Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre, details of which were reported by The New York Times. In the letter, Trump reportedly stated that because he was not awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, he no longer feels an "obligation to think purely of Peace." Senator Markey shared the headline on the social media platform X, appending a stark reply: "Invoke the 25th Amendment."
This constitutional provision allows the vice president and a majority of the principal officers of the executive departments to declare the president "unable to discharge the powers and duties of his office." If the president contests this declaration, Congress would then vote, with a two-thirds majority required in both chambers to uphold the removal.
Growing Chorus for Constitutional Action
Markey is not alone in his demand. At least three other Democratic members of the U.S. House of Representatives have joined the call. Representatives Eric Swalwell of California, Sydney Kamlager-Dove of California, and Yassamin Ansari of Arizona have all advocated for the amendment's invocation. Ansari was particularly blunt, describing Trump as "extremely mentally ill."
The lawmakers' concerns are rooted in Trump's persistent focus on Greenland, a semi-autonomous territory of Denmark. Earlier in January, Trump declared, "one way or the other, we're going to have Greenland," and has repeatedly refused to rule out using military force to achieve this goal. Critics argue this rhetoric represents a dangerous escalation and a clear threat to international stability.
A Social Media Firestorm and Broader Implications
The political reaction has been mirrored by a significant outcry on social media, where numerous users and commentators are demanding the 25th Amendment be used. Posts from figures like former Republican congressman Joe Walsh and accounts such as Republicans against Trump and The Daily Beast have framed Trump's letter as evidence of a president who is "clearly insane," "dangerous," and "delusional." Many are asking what purpose the amendment serves if not for a situation like this.
This incident underscores the deep and ongoing political divisions in the United States, with a sitting president's fitness for office being questioned through a rarely discussed constitutional mechanism. The focus on Greenland, a strategic Arctic region, also highlights how domestic political turmoil can have direct implications for international relations and global security, a matter of keen interest to Canadian observers given shared Arctic interests.
