The 25th Amendment specifies what occurs if the country’s president or vice president is removed, passes away, resigns, or, in the case of the president, is unable to ‘discharge the powers and duties of the office’
Yassamin Ansari, a Democrat representing Arizona’s 3rd District, boldly claimed that US President Donald Trump is ‘extremely mentally ill’ and should be removed from office immediately under the 25th Amendment.
“The president of the United States is extremely mentally ill and it’s putting all of our lives at risk. The 25th Amendment exists for a reason—we need to invoke it immediately,” the Democrat wrote on X.
And the reason behind Ansari’s claims that Trump is ‘mentally ill’? She cited the POTUS’ letter to Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store – where he suggested that not being awarded the Nobel Peace Prize has made him feel he no longer has an ‘obligation to think purely of peace,’ but ‘what is good and proper for US.’
What is the 25th amendment?
The 25th Amendment to the US Constitution was ratified in 1967 following the assassination of former US President John F Kennedy.
The Amendment specifies what occurs if America’s president or vice president is removed, passes away, resigns, or, in the case of the president, is unable to “discharge the powers and duties of the office.”
Divided into four sections – each section of the amendment defines a different process for succession and temporary transfer of authority.
It also explains how presidential powers are transferred to the vice-president.
Not just lawmaker Ansari. Multiple American politicians took to social media — highlighting the 25th amendment – with a focus on Section 4 of the amendment.
What is Section 4 of the Amendment?
Section 4 of the Amendment comes into action when the Vice President and either a majority of the Principal Officers of the Executive Departments or “such other body as Congress may by law provide” have decided that the President is unable to discharge the powers and duties of the office.
In simple terms, it means that Section 4 of the Amendment allows the vice president and a majority of principal officers belonging to the executive departments to declare that the President cannot discharge duties.
In case the president contests that declaration, the Congress is required to decide to uphold the removal of powers within a predetermined time frame by the same supermajorities.
The clause is still difficult to invoke politically and legally, and it has never been utilised in American history to remove a president permanently, state reports.