Under Section 4, the vice president and a majority of the Cabinet may declare in writing that the president is “unable to discharge the powers and duties” of the office. Once that declaration is delivered to congressional leadership, the vice president immediately becomes acting president. If the president disputes the claim, Congress must intervene, and only a two-thirds vote in both the House and the Senate can keep the president sidelined.
In practical terms, this sets an extraordinarily high bar. It requires not only the vice president’s cooperation, but also broad agreement among Cabinet members and overwhelming bipartisan support in Congress. Still, the fact that lawmakers are openly discussing it underscores how volatile the political climate has become.
Several Democratic officials have been explicit in their concerns. Representative Yassamin Ansari described Trump as “extremely mentally ill” and accused him of endangering lives through erratic decision-making. Other Democrats echoed the sentiment, arguing that Trump’s fixation on personal slights, combined with his willingness to threaten force against allies, demonstrates a level of instability incompatible with the presidency.
Notably, criticism has not been limited to Democrats. A handful of Republicans, including Representative Don Bacon and Senator Mitch McConnell, have publicly expressed discomfort with Trump’s rhetoric and behavior, even if they stop short of endorsing the 25th Amendment. Their comments suggest a growing unease within the party, particularly among lawmakers concerned about national security and international credibility.
At the center of the storm is Donald Trump, a figure who has always thrived on confrontation and spectacle. Trump’s defenders argue that his language, while provocative, is political theater rather than evidence of incapacity. They point out that voters were well aware of his temperament when they returned him to office, and that disagreements over policy or tone do not meet the constitutional standard for removal.
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