Several US lawmakers on Tuesday called for invoking the 25th Amendment to remove President Donald Trump from office after his warning that Iran could face total destruction sparked outrage across Washington.
Trump posted on Truth Social that “a whole civilisation will die tonight, never to be brought back again,” prompting immediate condemnation from Democratic lawmakers who accused him of threatening mass violence and escalating tensions with Iran.
Representative Melanie Stansbury said Trump’s remarks amounted to threats of mass killings and war crimes, arguing that such conduct justified constitutional mechanisms for removal from office.
Meanwhile, Representative Johnny Olszewski urged the Cabinet to invoke the 25th Amendment if Trump appeared prepared to act on his statement.
Democrats Denounce Threat as Dangerous
Representative Robert Garcia said Trump had “lost his mind” and called on Cabinet members to remain loyal to the Constitution. Similarly, Representative Sydney Kamlager-Dove described the rhetoric as “pure evil” and demanded Republican leaders intervene.
Representative Ro Khanna said threats of war crimes violate both the Geneva Conventions and the US Constitution. In addition, Representative Mark Pocan warned Trump was too unstable to retain control of nuclear launch authority.
Congresswoman Sara Jacobs accused Trump of threatening genocide, while Representative Sarah McBride called his remarks horrifying, illegal and genocidal.
Pressure Builds Amid Regional Conflict
Illinois Governor JB Pritzker also condemned Trump, describing him as a deranged leader threatening an entire nation.
The 25th Amendment allows the vice president and a majority of Cabinet members to declare a president unable to discharge official duties, transferring power to the vice president. However, Vice President JD Vance is currently in Hungary, complicating any immediate move.
The backlash comes as tensions continue rising after the US and Israel launched strikes on Iran in late February. Tehran has since retaliated with drone and missile attacks across the region, targeting Israel, Jordan, Iraq and Gulf states hosting American forces.
