Former Maga loyalists question Trump’s sanity and lead calls for removal

Trump mental state: Ex-MAGA loyalists demand immediate removal from office

By Muhammad Asghar | GlobalBeat

Three former Trump White House aides launched a formal effort to remove the president from office, citing what they call “visible mental deterioration” during recent public appearances.

The ex-aides filed paperwork Wednesday invoking the 25th Amendment, which allows cabinet members to declare a president “unable to discharge the powers and duties of his office.”

This marks the first time former Trump loyalists have publicly questioned his mental capacity. The move sends tremors through Republican circles less than 15 months into his second term.

Sarah Matthews, deputy press secretary during Trump’s first administration, said she witnessed “alarming behavior” during recent Oval Office meetings. “He forgets names of senior staff. He repeats the same sentence 5 times in 10 minutes,” Matthews told reporters outside the Justice Department.

The filing landed one day after Trump’s rambling 74-minute press conference, where he confused Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent with late singer Conway Twitty three separate times. Live television cameras captured the episodes, prompting #25thAmendment to trend for 14 straight hours.

Body language experts noted visible confusion during remarks about proposed steel tariffs on Brazil. The president paused mid-sentence for 11 seconds, stared blankly at reporters, then asked “what were we talking about?” according to pool reports confirmed by 3 journalists present.

White House physician Dr. Sean Barbabella examined Trump following the conference. The medical report released late Wednesday claimed “perfect cognitive health” but refused to disclose whether any neurological tests occurred.

“This isn’t partisan politics anymore,” Matthews said. “This is about basic competence to control nuclear weapons.”

The removal effort faces steep odds. It requires support from Vice President JD Vance plus 8 cabinet members, followed by 2/3 votes in both congressional chambers. Vance’s office issued a terse 12-word statement: “The vice president stands fully behind President Trump’s leadership.”

Republican senators largely deflected questions Thursday. Senator Ted Cruz rushed past reporters at the Capitol, offering only “the president is doing great.” Senator Josh Hawley’s office claimed he was “unavailable for comment” despite being filmed entering his office 20 minutes earlier.

The former aides represent a growing wave of Trump administration veterans speaking out. They include:

– Matthews, who resigned after January 6, 2021
– Alyssa Farah Griffin, former Pentagon spokeswoman
– John Kelly, ex-White House chief of staff

Kelly wrote in March that Trump praised Adolf Hitler’s “generals” during a 2018 conversation. The former Marine Corps general said he would “never vote” for his former boss again.

Trump’s campaign dismissed the removal effort as “sour grapes from disgruntled former employees who couldn’t cut it.” Spokesman Steven Cheung called Matthews “a low-level staffer seeking relevance” in a fundraising email sent within 90 minutes of Wednesday’s filing.

The president’s Tuesday press conference generated 47 million online views within 24 hours, according to analytics firm Cloudflare. Cable news channels replayed the most awkward moments on continuous loops throughout Wednesday programming.

Neurologists watching the footage noted concerning patterns. “The prolonged pauses, word-finding difficulties, and geographical confusion can indicate cognitive changes,” said Dr. Jennifer Martinez of Stanford Medical Center, speaking generally without examining Trump.

The 25th Amendment has never been used to remove a president against his will. Section 4 allows removal when “the President is unable to discharge the powers and duties of his office,” but requires extensive procedural steps designed to prevent abuse.

The current effort seems destined to fail without broader Republican support. Only 3 House Republicans publicly expressed concerns about Trump’s recent behavior, far short of the numbers needed for congressional approval.

Background

The 25th Amendment passed Congress in 1965 following President John F. Kennedy’s assassination. Lawmakers wanted clear procedures for presidential succession during potential incapacity.

Congress has used Section 3, allowing presidents to temporarily transfer power during medical procedures. Ronald Reagan invoked it during colon surgery in 1985. George W. Bush used it twice during colonoscopies.

Section 4, permitting removal without presidential consent, remains untested. It requires the vice president plus cabinet majority to declare the president “unable to discharge” his duties.Congress then needs 2/3 votes within 21 days to make removal permanent.

Trump’s mental fitness drew scrutiny during his first term. The White House arranged cognitive testing in 2018 after staff concerns about forgetfulness and confusion. Physician Ronny Jackson declared Trump had “absolutely no cognitive or mental issues whatsoever.”

Similar concerns emerged during Biden’s presidency. Republicans frequently questioned the Democrat’s mental acuity, pointing to verbal stumbles and confusion during speeches. Age and capacity questions dominated the 2024 campaign, when both candidates were over 75.

What’s Next

The filing triggers a 4-day window for Vice President Vance to respond. Without his support, the effort dies immediately. Legal experts expect rapid dismissal given Vance’s public loyalty to Trump.

House Democrats plan hearings on presidential fitness next month, though they lack power to force action. The 25th Amendment requires executive branch or congressional Republican participation, neither of which appears forthcoming.

The episode intensifies scrutiny of Trump’s upcoming NATO summit appearances. European leaders privately express concerns about dealing with an unpredictable American president during critical alliance decisions on Ukraine military aid.

The broader Republican Party faces mounting pressure to address questions about their standard-bearer’s mental state before the 2026 midterm elections. Internal polling reportedly shows suburban voters increasingly anxious about Trump’s age and stability.