Why Democrats are pushing for Trump’s impeachment after Iran threats: All about the 25th Amendment

A temporary ceasefire between the United States and Iran has done little to calm the political upheaval in Washington, where Democratic lawmakers intensified demands for President Donald Trump’s removal from office. The calls, ranging from impeachment to invoking the 25th Amendment, follow Trump’s threats of catastrophic military action and increasingly incendiary social-media posts directed at Tehran.

Democrats argue that the President’s language, including explicit warnings that “a whole civilisation will die tonight”, demonstrates a dangerous lack of judgement, and that a vote is necessary to stop the president before he "plunges the country into World War III". Several senior figures contend that Trump’s conduct shows he is unfit to continue serving as commander-in-chief.

Democrats escalate removal efforts

Progressive lawmakers led the charge on Monday and Tuesday, with dozens urging Vice President JD Vance and Cabinet officials to consider declaring Trump unable to discharge his duties. Reps Shri Thanedar and Jasmine Crockett submitted letters pressing Vance to trigger the 25th Amendment, while Rep John Larson introduced fresh articles of impeachment.

Rep Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez said Trump’s remarks were “a threat of genocide and merits removal from office”, adding, “The President’s mental faculties are collapsing and cannot be trusted.”

Rep Melanie Stansbury argued that a ceasefire announcement did not absolve the President’s conduct: “Just because a President announces he’s agreed to a two week ceasefire moments before he threatened to commit war crimes, does not mean he is suddenly fit to serve.”

Axios previously reported that more than 85 House Democrats, including senior leaders and former Speaker Nancy Pelosi, had publicly backed impeachment or removal as of Tuesday.

Ceasefire overshadowed by explosive rhetoric

The intense political backlash came hours after Trump announced a two-week ceasefire agreement that temporarily keeps the Strait of Hormuz open. The move followed a month of US and Israeli strikes on Iranian territory, including civilian energy sites.

Earlier that day, Trump warned on Truth Social that if Iran failed to comply by 8 pm ET on Tuesday, “a whole civilisation will die tonight, never to be brought back again.”

He later escalated the rhetoric with a highly explicit post stating, “Tuesday will be Power Plant Day, and Bridge Day, all wrapped up in one, in Iran. There will be nothing like it!!! Open the Fin’ Strait, you crazy b***s, or you’ll be living in Hell - JUST WATCH! Praise be to Allah.”

Republicans were divided. Some criticised the President’s tone; others, including Vance, defended the administration’s strategy. “We’ve got tools in our toolkit that we so far haven’t decided to use,” the Vice President said.

Senators urge emergency action

Sen Ed Markey welcomed signs of de-escalation but insisted Congress must act, saying Trump “cannot threaten war crimes without consequences.”

Sen Chris Murphy went further, writing, “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 later added, “Even blowing up a fraction [of Iran’s bridges and power plants] will kill thousands of innocent people… And for what? To force Iran to open the Strait of Hormuz WHICH WAS OPEN BEFORE TRUMP STARTED BOMBING IRAN??? This is pure insanity.”

Iranian embassies abroad circulated Murphy’s remarks, urging American officials to “Seriously think about the 25th Amendment, Section 4.”

25th Amendment speculation spikes

Public focus on the President’s fitness has intensified, prompting rumours, denied by the White House, regarding Trump’s health. Officials said he had been “working nonstop” and dismissed viral online claims suggesting a medical emergency.

Trump brushed off questions about his mental state, “I haven’t heard that,” he said, before adding, “But if that’s the case, you’re going to need more people like me.”

Meanwhile, trading on prediction platform Kalshi surged, with its contract on whether the 25th Amendment would be invoked rising from 28.6% to 35.1% in a month, its second-highest point since Trump began his second term. The market had been at 15% in January 2025.

What Section 4 actually allows

Section 4 of the 25th Amendment enables the Vice President and a majority of Cabinet officials to declare the President unable to perform his duties, thereby transferring power to the Vice President. It applies when a President is incapable of recognising his own incapacitation.

Congress may later decide, by a two-thirds vote in both chambers, whether to permanently strip presidential authority.

Notably, Section 4 has never been invoked in US history.

More Democrats join the push

Several Democrats publicly endorsed invoking Section 4. Rep Yassamin Ansari wrote, “The 25th Amendment exists for a reason. The President of the United States is a deranged lunatic, and a national security threat to our country and the rest of the world.”

Rep Stansbury added, “The emperor is without clothes… Time for the #25thAmendment.”

Rep Ansari also questioned why US-Israeli strikes had hit Sharif University of Technology in Tehran, writing, “Why are we bombing a university in a city of 10 million people?”

Former Trump adviser Mark Meadows warned that if Republicans lose the House, “impeachment 3.0 is coming.”

Background: A presidency marked by turmoil

Trump remains the only US President impeached twice in a single term. House Democrats impeached him in 2019 for abuse of power and obstruction of Congress, and again in 2021 for “incitement of insurrection” after the 6 January Capitol attack. The Senate acquitted him both times.

Questions over his cognitive condition have circulated for years, with critics citing verbal gaffes and physical stumbles; supporters insist these claims are politically motivated.

Ceasefire buys time, but not political quiet

The US-Iran agreement, brokered with Pakistan’s involvement, pauses strikes for two weeks while Tehran reopens the Strait of Hormuz. Trump said Pakistani leaders requested that he halt “the destructive force” planned for that night.

“Subject to the Islamic Republic of Iran agreeing to the COMPLETE, IMMEDIATE, and SAFE OPENING of the Strait of Hormuz, I agree to suspend the bombing and attack of Iran for a period of two weeks,” he wrote on Truth Social.

(With inputs from agencies)