An unprecedented bipartisan coalition of lawmakers and political figures called for President Donald Trump’s removal from office via the 25th Amendment on Tuesday, following his threat that “a whole civilization will die tonight” unless Iran reopens the Strait of Hormuz by his 8 p.m. deadline .
Rep. Yassamin Ansari (D-Ariz.), the Iranian American president of House Democrats’ freshman class, was among the first to respond Monday, stating: “The 25th Amendment exists for a reason; his Cabinet should use it. The fate of U.S. troops, the Iranian people, and the very foundation of our global system are at stake.”
The calls reached a fever pitch Tuesday after Trump posted on Truth Social that “a whole civilization will die tonight, never to be brought back again” amid his ongoing conflict with Iran. Dozens of Democrats have called to invoke the amendment , including potential presidential hopefuls like Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker .
What makes this moment unprecedented is the participation of Trump’s former allies. Former Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) called for the 25th Amendment Tuesday, writing on X: “25TH AMENDMENT!!! Not a single bomb has dropped on America. We cannot kill an entire civilization. This is evil and madness.”
Conspiracy theorist Alex Jones, once a Trump supporter, asked on his Monday show: “How do we 25th Amendment his ass?”
Right-wing podcaster Candace Owens also declared: “The 25th amendment needs to be invoked.”
Several Democratic lawmakers filed formal measures Tuesday. Rep. John Larson (CT-01) announced he filed articles of impeachment and called for the Cabinet to invoke the 25th Amendment, stating: “Donald Trump has blown past every requirement to be removed from office.”
Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.) posted: “This is not ok. Invoke the 25th amendment. Impeach. Remove. This unhinged lunatic must be removed from office.”
Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) wrote that if he were in Trump’s Cabinet, he “would spend Easter calling constitutional lawyers about the 25th Amendment,” describing the president’s post as “completely, utterly unhinged.”
Even some Republicans in Congress expressed concern. Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.), a longtime Trump ally, told the Wall Street Journal: “I am hoping and praying that President Trump is, that this really is bluster. I do not want to see us start blowing up civilian infrastructure. I do not want to see that. We are not at war with the Iranian people. We are trying to liberate them.”
The 25th Amendment calls stem from Trump’s escalating threats against Iran. Over the weekend, Trump posted: “Tuesday will be Power Plant Day, and Bridge Day, all wrapped up in one, in Iran. There will be nothing like it!!! Open the F-----’ Strait, you crazy bastards, or you’ll be living in Hell – JUST WATCH!”
Trump’s decision to bomb Iran on Feb. 28 despite internal warnings surprised lawmakers. His threats to target civilian infrastructure, assassinate Iranian leaders, and attack power plants and bridges have prompted Iran to block the Strait of Hormuz, dramatically raising global oil prices.
Section 4 of the 25th Amendment allows the vice president and a majority of the Cabinet to remove a president they deem “unable to discharge the powers and duties of his office.” The provision has never been invoked against a president’s will.
To successfully remove Trump, a majority of his Cabinet and Vice President JD Vance would have to be supportive. There are no indications any Cabinet officials are considering it right now.
Vance was in Hungary on Tuesday, where he called Trump so the president could address a political rally.
Rep. Jim Himes (D-Conn.), the top Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee, acknowledged the reality: “Republicans remain zombie-like acolytes.”
Constitutional scholars note the significance of bipartisan calls. When 25th Amendment removal was floated during Trump’s first term, it was almost universally the domain of Democrats. The current