By John Q. Hosedrinker 
The possibility of invoking the 25th Amendment, specifically Section 4, is being revisited due to concerns about Donald Trump’s cognitive abilities, which appear to have declined since his first term. This decline is evidenced by recent incidents, including sharing misinformation and confusing reality with fabricated scenarios. While the 25th Amendment provides a mechanism for removing a president deemed unfit, its implementation faces challenges, such as the need for Congressional action or the involvement of the Vice President and Cabinet, which are unlikely scenarios based on current political dynamics. Ultimately, the article suggests that Trump’s declining health and potential incapacity raise serious concerns about his ability to fulfill the duties of his office and calls for consideration of his removal.
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It’s time to invoke the 25th Amendment to protect America from Donald Trump. Trump’s obvious cognitive decline since his first term would be disqualifying to any other politician. Let’s face it; the signs are there. The rambling speeches, the misremembered facts, the inability to connect with reality on a consistent basis – these are not the hallmarks of a leader fit to guide a nation. And yet, the possibility of the 25th Amendment being utilized feels like a distant fantasy, a wish more than a plan. The reality is that the very people who would need to initiate such a process, the Vice President and the Cabinet, are likely to be the ones most invested in maintaining the status quo, and in maintaining Trump’s influence over the party.
Consider the landscape. Trump has surrounded himself with loyalists, sycophants who prioritize his favor over the well-being of the country. These are not individuals who would risk their own positions by initiating a process that could potentially remove him from power. They benefit from his presence, from his ability to sign bills, endorse policies, and generally act as a figurehead while they pursue their own agendas. It’s a symbiotic relationship, and it works against any attempt to invoke the 25th Amendment. The truth is, a pliable leader is a valuable asset for those who seek to manipulate power behind the scenes.
The 25th Amendment isn’t a quick fix for a situation like this. It’s specifically designed for situations where a president is incapacitated, like being unconscious. If Trump contested any attempt to remove him, the issue would be sent to Congress, where political partisanship would likely prevail, dooming the effort to failure. In fact, removing Trump via the 25th, is far more difficult and chaotic than people assume. The Republican Party, at this point, appears deeply committed to their leader, and the idea of them turning on him, even in the face of obvious cognitive decline, is simply unrealistic.
The fundamental issue is that the very people who should be concerned about the president’s cognitive state are the ones who are benefiting from his presence. The Republicans are more than happy as long as they stay in power, and his diminished capacity is a feature, not a bug, in their strategy. They are unlikely to police themselves. Any talk about the 25th Amendment at this stage is more of a distraction.
We’ve seen how this plays out in the real world. Think about how the situation surrounding Joe Biden was portrayed, and then consider the stark contrast when it comes to assessing Trump. It’s as though there are different standards, different interpretations of what constitutes a valid leadership capacity. It’s a sad state of affairs when political affiliations dictate what we choose to see or ignore.
Sadly, invoking the 25th Amendment needs the consent of those within his inner circle, and they’re all in on it. They don’t care if Trump is mentally competent or not, as long as they can pull the strings. Remember the warnings we heard last time? The reality is that the removal of Trump is not about his competence; it’s about the future of democracy. But the forces in control are actively working to undermine democracy, and that is a far more serious threat than one individual’s cognitive ability.
The scenario also involves the question of the Vice President and his role. Some have suggested that a replacement like JD Vance, who is closely aligned with the Heritage Foundation, would actually continue the same policies even after Trump’s removal. This highlights the bigger problem, which is the systemic nature of the challenges facing America. Trump may be a symptom, but the underlying illness is a much deeper malignancy.
The idea that the 25th Amendment will save us is a dream. It’s unlikely. What is more likely is the continuation of the current course, one that could lead to the further erosion of democratic norms, or worse, the total dismantling of the systems of checks and balances on which the nation was built.
In the end, while we can discuss Trump’s cognitive state and the potential for invoking the 25th Amendment, we must also recognize the limitations of such discussions. The real struggle is not just about one man. It’s about a bigger problem, the cancer eating away at America, and this cancer cannot be cured with a single pill.