Topline
Democratic lawmakers and former conservative allies have increasingly called for Vice President JD Vance and members of Donald Trump’s cabinet to invoke the 25th Amendment and remove the president from office this week after he threatened to kill an “entire civilization” if Iranian leaders failed to meet U.S. demands.
President Donald Trump mimics firing a gun as he speaks about the conflict on April 6, 2026, in Washington, DC.
AFP via Getty Images
Key Facts
Trump Tuesday morning said "a whole civilization will die tonight, never to be brought back again" if Iran did not agree to reopen the Strait of Hormuz by an 8 p.m. deadline—roughly 10 hours later, Trump announced a two-week ceasefire with Iran.
Figures on both sides of the aisle on Tuesday accused from Trump of threatening genocide against the people of Iran and called for him to be forcibly removed from office through the 25th Amendment, which outlines how a vice president and members of a president’s cabinet can involuntarily strip a president of his powers.
Democratic lawmakers including Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY), Rep. Ro Khanna (D-CA), Rep. Melanie Stansbury (D-NM) and at least 30 others have all said the 25th Amendment needs to be used against Trump.
Some former allies of the president, including former Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga), far-right commentator Alex Jones and conservative media personality Candace Owens have made similar calls.
Billionaire JB Pritzker, Democratic governor of Illinois, on Tuesday said Trump is "a deranged mad man threatening to wipe out an entire country,” adding it is “past time” the 25th Amendment be invoked.
While most Republican lawmakers stopped short of calling for his removal, several criticized his strongly-worded threat as "an affront to the ideals our nation" and "not consistent with the principles that have long guided America.”
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Crucial Quote
“25TH AMENDMENT!!! Not a single bomb has dropped on America. We cannot kill an entire civilization. This is evil and madness,” Green posted to X.
How Could The 25th Amendment Remove Trump From Office?
The fourth section of the Constitution's 25th Amendment, which has never been invoked, allows for the vice president and a majority of either the presidential Cabinet or a majority of an "other body" created by Congress, to declare a president unfit for office. The vice president would then be elevated to acting president until the president can either prove he is capable of resuming his duties, or 2/3 of Congress votes to keep him out of office. In that case, the vice president would continue to serve as president. Some refer to section four as the "involuntary removal mechanism.”
Contra
Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) said Tuesday he thinks Trump "is facing serious mental decline" but added that "invoking the 25th is not realistic right now.” He said he doesn’t think Trump’s cabinet would ever vote to involuntarily remove him. Lawyer Robert Barnes, who appeared on Jones' Infowars podcast this week, cast doubt on the idea of the 25th Amendment being invoked, noting "it's harder than impeachment." Rep. Diana DeGette (D-CO) suggested Trump’s cabinet is “too cowardly” to remove him from office.
What Other Conservatives Have Spoken Against Trump’s Iran Threats?
Rep. Nathaniel Moran, R-Texas, criticized Trump’s threats on X: “That is not who we are, and it is not consistent with the principles that have long guided America.” Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) said the threat “cannot be excused” and said he and Iran “must de-escalate their unprecedented saber-rattling before it is too late.”Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis) on Tuesday said he is "hoping and praying" that Trump's threat is "bluster." "I do not want to see us start blowing up civilian infrastructure. I do not want to see that,” he said. “We are not at war with the Iranian people.” Rep. Don Bacon (R-Neb.) told MS NOW he did not appreciate Trump's “vulgar and profane” language in an Easter post that threatened Iran, but said he had "mixed opinions" on if attacking bridges and power plants constitutes a war crime.
Who Is Supporting Trump’s Iran Threats?
Sen. Rick Scott (R-Fla.) praised Trump for holding Iran “accountable.” Rep. Clay Higgins (R-La.) urged Trump to “hit” the Iranians “so hard, the Angels in Heaven nod in wonder.” Rep. Randy Fine (R-Fla.) posted on Monday “Happy Power Plant and Bridge Eve!” Sen. Lindsay Graham (R-SC) on Monday said he supported Trump launching a "massive military attack destroying (the Iran) regime's capability to ever wage war again." The X account for Senate Republicans posted several messages in support of Trump, including a post reading, "Iran would be wise to take President Trump at his word. They can choose the easy way or the hard way."
Tangent
Some urged members of the military to defy Trump’s orders. Retired Lt Gen Mark Hertling told MS NOW that military commanders are preparing to disobey unlawful orders from Trump related to the Iran war. Rep. Sara Jacobs (D-CA) called on the Joint Chiefs of Staff to "disregard any such military orders that violate federal and international law." Sen. Ed Markey (D-Mass) posted, “To the members of our military: remember, you do not have to follow illegal orders.”
Further Reading
This article was originally published on Forbes.com