Over 70 Congressional Democrats demand Trump’s removal over Iran threats

More than 70 Democratic lawmakers in the US Congress have launched a formal call for the removal of President Donald Trump from office, citing his severe threats against Iran and his handling of ongoing military operations.

The development is viewed as the first concrete sign of the aggressive stance the party’s base will demand from leadership against Trump should Democrats win a majority in the upcoming midterm elections.

While Democratic leaders in both chambers are attempting to demonstrate to voters that they are standing firm against the president and Republicans, they continue to maintain a cautious political line regarding formal impeachment.

However, a wave of anger swept through Democratic ranks after Trump issued a stark warning on Tuesday—threatening the destruction of an “entire civilization” if Tehran failed to reach an agreement by 8:00 p.m.—only to declare a two-week ceasefire hours later.

Party members accused Trump of “threatening genocide” and emphasized that the last-minute ceasefire did not absolve the president of his “reckless behavior.”

In response, many Democrats have intensified calls for Trump to be impeached or removed under the 25th Amendment of the US Constitution, a mechanism that has never been used to remove a sitting president.

Although the minority Democratic Party lacks the necessary votes for either option, the rising demands are placing significant pressure on Democratic leadership while highlighting widespread discontent among the party’s voter base.

“You cannot yell ‘fire’ in a crowded theater; nor can a president be allowed to use the US military to threaten genocide,” Democratic Representative Sarah McBride of Delaware stated on the social media platform X.

McBride noted that threats of war crimes and a disregard for human life must carry legal consequences, asserting that Trump must leave office. She further stated that Republicans, whether in the cabinet or Congress, must use all constitutional powers at their disposal alongside Democrats to stop this “illegal war” and take the weapon out of the hands of this “madman.”

Democratic Senator Andy Kim of New Jersey echoed these sentiments, stating that Trump is “unfit for the role of commander-in-chief” and urged his Republican colleagues to take a stand.

Kim noted that while the impeachment process begins in the House of Representatives, he does not expect Speaker Mike Johnson to demonstrate the will to act. He emphasized that Trump’s supporters appear more focused on protecting their seats and jobs than on the rule of law, the Constitution, or the will of the people.

Representative Shri Thanedar of Michigan took the demands a step further, sending a direct letter to Vice President Vance and other members of the Trump cabinet requesting the invocation of the 25th Amendment. On the same day, Representative John Larson of Connecticut announced he had introduced articles of impeachment against Trump over the Iran conflict.

The 25th Amendment of the US Constitution allows the vice president and a majority of the cabinet to vote that the president is “unable to discharge the powers and duties of his office,” at which point the vice president assumes the role of acting president.

In the event of a dispute regarding the president’s capacity, the decision is left to Congress, which must approve the removal by a two-thirds majority in both the House and the Senate. To impeach a president, a simple majority is required in the House, while a two-thirds majority in the Senate is necessary for conviction and removal from office.

In the past, most Democratic members joined Republicans in rejecting impeachment resolutions introduced by Representative Al Green of Texas to avoid sending a “partisan message” to voters in swing districts ahead of a competitive election cycle.

Democratic leaders in Congress also refrained from directly supporting calls for Trump’s removal this week. Instead, leadership focused on a “war powers resolution” intended to restrict Trump’s authority regarding operations in Iran.

When asked whether Trump’s rhetoric warranted impeachment or the invocation of the 25th Amendment, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries replied, “Regarding impeachment and similar matters, I cannot say we have ruled out any options, nor have we finalized any; we will deal with the issues before us.”

Jeffries added that as an equal and independent branch of government, they have a responsibility to defend the American people and intend to do so with the necessary tools. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer also declined to join the calls for Trump’s removal.

Democrats attempted to pass a war powers measure in the House on Thursday but were unsuccessful. Jeffries announced that the matter would be brought to a vote again shortly, while Schumer stated the Senate would vote on the Iran war powers resolution next week.

House leaders hope to convince a sufficient number of Republican members to pass the bill following the developments of the past two weeks.

Some Democratic members acknowledged the difficulties of removing Trump, stating their current focus remains on the immediate situation.

Gregory Meeks, a supporter of the war powers resolution in the House, said that while he could speak to Trump’s competence, the votes required for impeachment do not exist. Meeks noted that oversight mechanisms are not being utilized in the Republican-controlled House and Senate.

Despite the low probability of removing Trump under the current congressional arithmetic, Democrats are focusing on a victory in next year’s midterm elections, which could grant them more power in Congress.

Representative Madeleine Dean of Pennsylvania told reporters on Thursday that launching an impeachment process while in the minority was not the best use of time. “Let’s win the majority first, then hold this president accountable,” she said.