By John Q. Hosedrinker 
Founding editor of The American Conservative, Scott McConnell, has urged Vice President JD Vance to publicly endorse a transition of power under the 25th Amendment. McConnell suggests Vance should announce his support for a potential 25th Amendment transfer, pledge not to run in 2028, and leverage his platform to explain its necessity. This call arises amid ongoing discussions about the aging of the current president and the legal provisions for vice presidential succession, particularly concerning the 25th Amendment.
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The notion of U.S. Senator JD Vance being urged to initiate the process of invoking the 25th Amendment against former President Donald Trump has surfaced, sparking considerable debate and skepticism regarding its feasibility and potential consequences. This discussion often centers on Vance’s past criticisms of Trump and his current alignment within the Republican party, leading to varied interpretations of his potential actions.
The core of the argument for invoking the 25th Amendment often stems from concerns about Trump’s mental fitness and his capacity to serve effectively as president. Supporters of this idea suggest that Trump’s behavior and pronouncements indicate a cognitive decline that could jeopardize national security and the functioning of government. They see Vance, who has publicly expressed reservations about Trump in the past, as a potential figure who might be willing to act on these concerns.
However, there is a prevailing sentiment that JD Vance is unlikely to take such a drastic step, largely due to his current political standing and his deep ties to the MAGA movement. Many believe Vance is too entrenched in his support for Trump to risk alienating his base, which is crucial for his future political ambitions. The idea that he might wait until after a potential future presidential term concludes to act, thus allowing him to run for two full terms himself, is a recurring theme in these discussions.
Furthermore, a significant portion of the discourse highlights the procedural complexities and inherent difficulties in invoking the 25th Amendment. It’s often pointed out that the amendment requires a declaration of unfitness by the Vice President and a majority of the Cabinet. Even if this hurdle were overcome, the President can contest this declaration by sending a letter to Congress, which then necessitates a two-thirds vote in both the House and the Senate to uphold the amendment’s invocation. This high threshold makes the process considerably more challenging than impeachment, which requires a simple majority in the House.
The perceived lack of political will among Republicans to challenge Trump is another major impediment frequently cited. Many argue that Republican lawmakers, including Vance, are too beholden to Trump and his supporters to take actions that would be seen as a betrayal. The potential for being labeled a “traitor” by the MAGA base is seen as a powerful deterrent, overshadowing any concerns about presidential fitness.
The role of media outlets, such as Newsweek, in publishing such calls for action is also questioned. Some view these articles as mere opinion pieces or calls to action from individuals without significant political power, lacking the weight to compel a sitting Senator to act. The comparison to a private citizen urging a billionaire to donate money illustrates the perceived distance between these calls and actual political leverage.
There’s also a sentiment that the 25th Amendment is often misunderstood or misrepresented as a simple solution to political disagreements, rather than a mechanism designed for specific circumstances of presidential incapacity. The historical context of its creation, often linked to situations where a president is physically unable to perform their duties, is brought up to emphasize that it was not intended as a tool for political removal based on policy disagreements or perceived character flaws.
Ultimately, the prevailing view across many discussions is that while the idea of JD Vance invoking the 25th Amendment against Donald Trump might be an appealing thought for some, the political realities, procedural hurdles, and the deeply entrenched loyalty within the Republican party make it an exceedingly unlikely scenario. The focus, for many, shifts to other avenues of accountability, such as impeachment, though even that is viewed with significant skepticism regarding its success in the current political climate.