Concerns over Donald Trump’s cognitive and mental health are resurfacing in the U.S., prompting Democrats to consider invoking the 25th Amendment or impeachment.
Doubtful Mental Health of Donald Trump
The topic of Donald Trump’s mental state periodically returns to public debate in the U.S., dating back to 2016 when he first ran for president, according to the New York Times.
The newspaper reports that during his second term, Trump’s behavior appears more inconsistent, he uses more vulgar language, speaks at greater length, and makes claims not based on facts.
Public Outcry and Allegations of Instability
Recent public concern was sparked by the president’s statements regarding the “destruction of civilization” in Iran and attacks on Pope Leo XIV. Even some former allies and advisors are questioning whether Trump has become more “unbalanced,” describing him as “obviously insane.”
Concerns Extend Beyond Partisan Lines
These concerns are not limited to left-leaning circles, comedians, or mental health specialists offering remote diagnoses. The New York Times notes that voices expressing these concerns can also be heard among retired generals, diplomats, and foreign officials.
Even some within right-wing circles, including the MAGA movement, have voiced concerns. Former Trump supporter Marjorie Taylor Greene called threatening the destruction of Iran’s civilization “not tough talk, but insanity,” while far-right podcaster Candace Owens labeled the president a “genocidal maniac.”
Democrats Seek Trump’s Removal
Over 85 Democrats have called for Trump’s removal from office based on the 25th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution or through impeachment. Representative Jamie Raskin has appealed to the White House doctor to assess the president’s cognitive functions due to his rhetoric regarding war with Iran.
Raskin’s letter cited “symptoms indicative of dementia and cognitive decline,” noting increasingly incoherent, erratic, blasphemous, unbalanced, and threatening public statements and outbursts from Trump.
Republican Loyalty and Dismissal of Concerns
Republicans in Congress and members of the president’s cabinet remain publicly loyal to Trump. The New York Times reports that what critics call “psychosis” is dismissed by the president’s defenders as strategy.
White House representative Davis Ingle dismissed Raskin as “a softie” and “a foolish man’s conception of an intelligent man,” asserting Trump’s “penetrating insight, unmatched energy, and historic accessibility” contrast sharply with Democrats’ alleged concealment of Joe Biden’s mental and physical decline.
Lack of Intervention and Trump’s Exploitation of the Narrative
Princeton University historian Julian Zelizer noted the passivity surrounding Trump, stating that those around him “look at the floor and say nothing,” and unlike his first term, do not appear to be taking any behind-the-scenes action to restrain him. He added that some of the Republican electorate enjoys this style of leadership.
Trump has also repeatedly attempted to leverage his reputation as an “insane” figure, such as during talks with North Korea.
Possible Removal and 25th Amendment Procedures
On Tuesday (April 14th), House Democrats introduced a bill to establish a commission to assess whether to invoke the 25th Amendment and remove Trump from office. The bill has 50 Democratic co-authors who are increasingly open to using drastic measures to remove Trump.
Passage of the bill is considered unlikely due to Republican control of Congress and Trump’s potential veto power.
The 25th Amendment outlines procedures for replacing the president and addresses scenarios involving the president’s inability to discharge the powers and duties of his office. No sitting president has been removed under the 25th Amendment.
Commission Proposal and Voting Requirements
Raskin’s proposal suggests a 17-member commission to investigate the president’s fitness for office regarding physical and mental health. He emphasized that public confidence in Trump’s ability to fulfill his duties, given threats to destroy entire civilizations, has fallen to an unprecedented level.
The proposal envisions two members appointed by Senate leaders, the Speaker of the House, and the House minority leader, with Democrats and Republicans each selecting four additional members. The 16 appointed members would vote on a 17th member to chair the commission.
“Trump is Just Trump”
Even if the bill passes, removing Trump would be difficult. CNN reports that no cabinet member or Vice President J.D. Vance appears willing to do so. Vance would need to approve the commission’s findings and temporarily remove the president, followed by a two-thirds vote in both houses of Congress for permanent removal.
In January, the mental acuity of the 79-year-old president was questioned when he requested the U.S. take control of Greenland because he hadn’t received the Nobel Peace Prize. New York Magazine suggested that “chaotic behavior, rambling statements, threats to attack Greenland over a lack of a Nobel Peace Prize” could simply be “Trump being Trump.”
A Reuters/Ipsos poll in February found that 61% of Americans believe Trump has become more erratic with age, while 45% believe he is sharp and capable of facing challenges.
