Recently, the 25th Amendment has received a lot of momentum across the United States. After President Donald Trump sent a letter to the Prime Minister of Norway, Jonas Gahr Store, critical comments questioning his ability to carry out his responsibilities arose. Because of the number of people posting on social media, including lawmakers and the general public, the discussion of the implementation of the 25th Amendment is once again gathering steam.
Upon the inability of a president to carry out his official responsibilities, Section 4 of the Amendment states that the vice-president and members of the President's Cabinet can institute procedures for determining the President's ability to carry out his duties. Although the provision is included within the Constitution, it has not been invoked to date to remove a president from office on a permanent basis.
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What's the debate now?
Since the criticisation of Donald Trump on social media increased, many individuals believe his actions, especially his letter written to the Prime Minister of Norway, reflect a tendency toward threatening a relationship resulting in war, which creates concern for his mental health to be in good shape as President of the country as well as causing people to fear him becoming President again.
In the letter to Norway PM, Trump said, "Dear Jonas: Considering your Country decided not to give me the Nobel Peace Prize for having stopped 8 Wars PLUS, I no longer feel an obligation to think purely of Peace, although it will always be predominant, but can now think about what is good and proper for the United States of America. Denmark cannot protect that land from Russia or China, and why do they have a 'right of ownership' anyway?"
"There are no written documents, it's only that a boat landed there hundreds of years ago, but we had boats landing there, also. I have done more for NATO than any other person since its founding, and now, NATO should do something for the United States. The World is not secure unless we have Complete and Total Control of Greenland. Thank you! President DJT."
Following this letter, people have called for invocation of the 25th Amendment, under which the vice-president would assume the duties of the President.
What is 25th Amendment?
The 25th Amendment describes the procedure that will take place in the case where the President cannot execute the duties of their office. It was ratified in 1967 after the death of President John F Kennedy.
The Amendment defines several circumstances under which a President may die, resign, be removed from office or be incapacitated. It also sets forth the method by which a vice-president may assume Presidential powers. The 25th Amendment contains four distinct sections, each section describes an alternative means for establishing or temporarily transferring legal authority.
What are the people saying online?
Social media has been abuzz with posts calling for the invocation of 25th Amendment.
One X user said, "The 25th amendment allows us to remove a president who is unfit. Raise your hand if you think that Donald Trump is unfit to be the president of the United States of America."
Another wrote, "I find it alarming that millions of Americans still think this unhinged buffoon, who is threatening the world because he didn't get a prize, are totally fine with his increasingly crazy behavior. I AM NOT. Congress, do your damn jobs: 25th Amendment NOW."
NYT #1 bestseller author, Rick Wilson, said, "Trump‘s new gigantic temper tantrum over Norway is deep into 25th Amendment territory. Hell, at this point? 25th Admt territory is far in the rearview mirror and we are descending further into madness by the moment."
