Democrats Escalate Calls for 25th Amendment Amid Trump's Erratic Conduct
In a striking development, Representative Dan Goldman, a Democrat from New York, has publicly declared that former President Donald Trump is "not well" and is urging members of his administration to initiate a constitutional process that could lead to his removal from office. This call comes in response to a recent Wall Street Journal report detailing Trump's behavior during a sensitive military operation.
Allegations of Exclusion from Command
According to the Wall Street Journal summary shared by Goldman on Sunday, Trump's advisers reportedly kept him out of a command room while the U.S. military attempted to rescue two airmen who were downed in Iran. The newspaper claimed that "Trump screamed at aides for hours," with aides fearing that "his impatience wouldn't be helpful" in the delicate operation. Goldman emphasized the gravity of this situation in a post on X, stating, "The commander-in-chief was excluded from commanding a military operation because he was acting so crazy. Think about that."
Invoking the 25th Amendment
Goldman further argued, "Trump is not well. We need the 25th amendment before something really bad happens on US soil." The 25th Amendment to the Constitution outlines a procedure where the vice president and a majority of the Cabinet can declare a president unable to perform his duties, thereby installing the vice president as "acting president." If the president contests this declaration, Congress would ultimately decide the issue, requiring a two-thirds vote in both the House and Senate to keep the president out of office.
Growing Democratic Support
Goldman is not alone in his concerns. Earlier this month, after Trump threatened to destroy Iran so thoroughly that they would be "living in hell," Senator Chris Murphy, a Democrat from Connecticut, also raised the issue on X. He wrote, "If I were in Trump's Cabinet, I would spend Easter calling constitutional lawyers about the 25th Amendment. This is completely, utterly unhinged. He's already killed thousands. He's going to kill thousands more."
Additionally, earlier this year, Senator Ed Markey, a Democrat from Massachusetts, urged Vice President JD Vance and the Cabinet to act under the 25th Amendment following Trump's threats against Greenland. Several other lawmakers have joined in, with Representative Yassamin Ansari, a Democrat from Arizona, adding that Trump was "extremely mentally ill."
Broader Implications
These calls highlight ongoing debates about presidential fitness and the mechanisms in place to address such concerns. The 25th Amendment, rarely invoked, serves as a critical safeguard in the U.S. constitutional framework, designed to ensure stability in times of crisis. As Democrats continue to voice alarm over Trump's behavior, the discussion underscores the intersection of mental health, national security, and political accountability in contemporary American politics.
