Democrats push 25th amendment as Trump threatens Iran, republicans stay silent

• Over 20 Democratic lawmakers call for invoking 25th Amendment over Trump’s threats.
• Republicans remain mostly silent; debate on president’s mental fitness intensifies.

As United States President Donald Trump continues to issue aggressive, curse-laden threats against Iran, Democrats are escalating alarm over his mental stability and demanding his removal from office, while Republicans remain conspicuously silent.

Trump, 79, has delivered rambling and incoherent speeches, insulted US allies, and brazenly threatened actions widely considered war crimes. On Easter Sunday, he posted on social media: “Open the Fuckin’ Strait, you crazy bastards, or you’ll be living in Hell.” He followed this by warning that “a whole civilization will die tonight” if Tehran does not meet his latest deadline for a deal that includes reopening the Strait of Hormuz.

Calls for 25th Amendment

By Tuesday afternoon, more than 20 Democratic members of Congress urged Trump’s cabinet to invoke the 25th Amendment, arguing the president is unfit to hold office.

Rashida Tlaib (Michigan) wrote on X: “After bombing a school and massacring young girls, the war criminal in the White House is threatening genocide. It’s time to invoke the 25th Amendment. This maniac should be removed from office.”

Ilhan Omar (Minnesota) called Trump an “unhinged lunatic” and demanded: “When will it be enough for my Republican colleagues to grow spines and remove him from office?”

Mark Pocan (Wisconsin) said: “25th Amendment RIGHT NOW! Trump is too unhinged, dangerous, and deranged to have the nuclear codes!”

They were joined by former Republican Marjorie Taylor Greene, who declared: “25TH AMENDMENT!!! Not a single bomb has dropped on America. We cannot kill an entire civilization. This is evil and madness.” Greene had previously warned that Trump has “gone insane.”

Yassamin Ansari, the only Iranian-American Democrat in Congress, wrote on social media: “The President of the United States is a deranged lunatic, and a national security threat to our country and the rest of the world.” She added in an interview with the Guardian:

“I am devastated and appalled by the lack of action from Trump’s cabinet, from Republicans in Congress who are standing idly by as Donald Trump is threatening genocide, war crimes, and essentially speaking as though he intends to use a nuclear weapon in Iran. This is a grave moment not just for the United States but in world history and we will be judged on what we did in this moment. I am urging Republicans to put party affiliation and blind loyalty to Donald Trump aside and take action immediately to restrain him.”

Republican Silence

Despite these calls, the chances of Trump’s loyal cabinet acting against him to install Vice President J.D. Vance are considered close to zero. Few Republicans have voiced dissent, with many openly supporting the president’s Iran stance. Kurt Bardella, a former Republican congressional aide turned Democrat, said:

“The one mechanism that we know could be executed immediately is the 25th Amendment. All that’s standing in the way of the complete annihilation of a civilization or not is if there are a dozen or 13 Republicans who have a spine, a soul, a conscience and the fortitude to do what they know is right.”

Mental Fitness Debate

Trump’s mental state has become a contentious issue. Critics cite rambling speeches, insults, and extreme policy threats as evidence of instability. Observers note parallels with previous scrutiny of President Joe Biden’s cognitive health, arguing that age and fitness should be closely evaluated for any sitting president, especially one with nuclear authority.

Bill Galston, a former Clinton adviser, said:

“It is utterly unsurprising that a party, 98% of which has tolerated anything and everything from this president, would continue their cowardly behaviour… If it turns out that, behind the scenes, senior members of the Trump administration are aware of any mental distortion or incapacity, history won’t deal with them kindly.”

Trump does not drink or smoke but loves fast food. Defenders claim he remains energetic, working late and delivering long speeches without pauses. However, evidence of hand bruising and swollen ankles has raised questions. Trump asserts he has “aced” cognitive tests that no other president could, and Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt called him “always the most well-read person in the room.” Critics dismiss these claims as laughable.

Internal GOP Criticism

Some right-wing figures, including Tucker Carlson, Alex Jones, and Candace Owens, have described Trump’s threats to Iran as a betrayal of his “America First” promise to end forever wars. Jones asked publicly: “How do we 25th amendment his ass?”

Global and Security Implications

Trump’s threats target civilian infrastructure in Iran in potential violation of international law. The divide in Washington, coupled with partisan silence, has raised alarms about US foreign policy, energy security, and the risk of escalation in the region. Analysts warn that inaction in the face of such threats could have historical consequences.