Markey had originally called for Trump’s removal after he threatened to wipe out a “whole civilization” if Iran did not capitulate to U.S. demands. • He doubled down on that call even after the United States and Iran came to a ceasefire on April 7. • Markey, along with others like Greene and the NAACP, […]
Markey had originally called for Trump’s removal after he threatened to wipe out a “whole civilization” if Iran did not capitulate to U.S. demands.
• He doubled down on that call even after the United States and Iran came to a ceasefire on April 7.
• Markey, along with others like Greene and the NAACP, said that the cabinet and the Vice President must invoke the 25th Amendment to remove Trump.
Sen. Ed Markey, D-Mass., is calling for the removal of President Donald Trump over his actions in Iran – even after the United States and Iran came to a ceasefire on April 7.
“I’m glad there is a reported ceasefire deal with Iran. But we shouldn’t be in this illegal war in the first place. And Donald Trump can’t simply threaten war crimes with impunity,” Markey posted on social media April 7. “Congress needs to get back in session now to stop this war and remove Donald Trump.”
Markey had originally called for Trump’s removal, either by impeachment or through the 25th Amendment, after the president threatened to wipe out a “whole civilization” if Iran did not capitulate to U.S. demands.
“He has threatened war crimes on an apocalyptic scale and appears eager to commit them, including through the possible use of nuclear weapons,” Markey said in a statement. “The Congress must act now.”
“A whole civilization will die tonight, never to be brought back again. I don’t want that to happen, but it probably will,” he posted on Truth Social.
The post prompted backlash across the aisle, with Democrats like Markey and Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker to even former Georgia GOP Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene suggesting that Trump should be removed from office.
What is the 25th amendment?
The 25th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution lays out the rules of succession for the presidential office and those for presidential disability or removal.
Part of the amendment outlines the process for a removal of a president who is unable or unwilling to perform their duties. In the case the president is incapable of serving but does not voluntarily transfer power, they can be declared unable to hold the position by the vice president, along with a “majority of either the principal officers of the executive departments or of such other body as Congress may by law provide.”
The terms “unable” and “inability” were left intentionally broad, according to the National Constitution Center. Legal scholars have cited impeachment, physical disability or “political emergencies” like kidnapping as potential scenarios for the use of Section 4.
Can the 25th Amendment be used to remove Trump?
Theoretically, the 25th Amendment can be invoked by or against any sitting president. However, the bar for clearing its use is much higher than for other actions like impeachment.
Modern interpretations from scholars at institutions like Cornell Law and the Congressional Research Service say the majority, if not all, of the acting Cabinet heads would need to sign on with the vice president to put Section 4 into action.
Neither JD Vance and nor any of the relevant Cabinet members have expressed support for removing Trump or taking punitive action against him. And it’s also unclear whether Trump would qualify as being “unable” to serve as president.
“Unfortunately, invoking the 25th is not realistic right now, given his oddball cabinet of sycophants and eccentrics, and Republican ’spines of foam,’” Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, D-R.I., said on social media April 7. “We’re going to have to buckle down and win this the old-fashioned way.”
Markey also said that Trump could be removed through the impeachment process.
To impeach a president, the House must pass the articles of impeachment by a simple majority vote. Then, two-thirds of the Senate must vote to convict and remove him.
Trump was impeached twice by the House of Representatives during his first term, but the Senate did not convict and remove him from office.
It’s likely that impeachment would be difficult now as both the House and the Senate are currently controlled by Republicans, few of whom have expressed interest in impeaching Trump.
What to know about the ceasefire
A two-week ceasefire between the United States and Iran is now underway following an 11th hour deal struck just before a deadline imposed by Trump. Both countries declared victory.
While negotiations take place and the fighting halts, Iran said the Strait of Hormuz will remain open. Trump and Hegseth both said on Wednesday that Iran will hand over its enriched uranium and give up future enrichment, though Tehran has repeatedly reaffirmed its right to enrich.
Markey doubled down on his call for Trump’s removal even after the ceasefire with Iran was announced.…Read more by Margie Cullen