Calls are growing for Donald Trump to be removed from office after an “unhinged” Truth Social post about Iran — but what would actually have to happen for that to occur?
During the Easter weekend, Trump issued threats aimed at infrastructure in Tehran, writing on Truth Social: “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***in’ Strait, you crazy b******s, or you’ll be living in Hell – JUST WATCH! Praise be to Allah.”
In the aftermath, some political figures have argued the situation is serious enough to consider invoking the 25th Amendment, a constitutional mechanism that can transfer presidential power away from the president under specific circumstances.
One of the most prominent voices pushing that idea is Senator Chris Murphy, a Democrat from Connecticut, who posted over the weekend urging members of Trump’s administration to seek legal guidance on the process.
“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,” he said.
Senator Bernie Sanders, a Democrat from Vermont, also condemned the message, describing Trump’s post as ‘the ravings of a dangerous and mentally unbalanced individual’.
The 25th Amendment is structured into four separate sections, each addressing different scenarios involving presidential and vice-presidential authority.
Section one establishes that if a president dies, resigns, or is removed, the vice president — currently JD Vance — becomes president.
Section two covers a vacancy in the vice presidency, allowing the president to nominate a new vice president, who only takes office after confirmation by Congress.
Section three allows the president to voluntarily transfer power to the vice president temporarily — for example, during a medical procedure — by declaring they are unable to perform the duties of the office for a limited period.
However, it is section four that is most often discussed in removal conversations, because it outlines how power can be taken from a president without their consent in cases of incapacity.
In practice, triggering section four is a high bar and involves multiple steps across the executive branch and Congress.
It requires the vice president and a majority of the cabinet (or another body designated by Congress) to formally declare that the president is ‘unable to discharge the powers and duties of his office’.
If that declaration is delivered, the vice president immediately assumes the powers of the presidency.
The president can then challenge the move by sending a written statement asserting they are capable of performing their duties. After that, the vice president would have four days to respond with another declaration maintaining that the president remains unfit.
At that point, Congress must convene and hold a vote within 21 days. If two-thirds of both the House and the Senate agree the president is unable to perform the role, the vice president continues as acting president and the president is effectively removed from power. If the threshold is not met, the president regains authority.