House Democrats call for commission led by JD Vance to oust Trump

JD Vance Trump commission: House Democrats demand VP lead removal panel

Muhammad Asghar | GlobalBeat

House Democrats introduced legislation Tuesday that would place Vice President JD Vance in charge of a bipartisan commission to determine whether President Donald Trump remains fit for office.

The bill marks the first formal attempt by congressional Democrats to remove Trump since he began his second term in January, and it relies on Vance — once a fierce Trump critic — to help lead the effort.

Vance famously called Trump “America’s Hitler” before the 2016 election, then reversed course to become his running mate. Now Democrats want him to chair a body that could end Trump’s presidency under the 25th Amendment.

Rep. Jamie Raskin of Maryland, the bill’s lead sponsor, told reporters the commission would include 10 medical experts and 10 former federal officials chosen by congressional leaders. Vance would cast tie-breaking votes as chair.

“This isn’t about politics,” Raskin said. “The president’s mental state has deteriorated to the point where his own Cabinet members are discussing it privately.”

The legislation comes after Trump’s rambling two-hour Rose Garden speech last week where he claimed wind turbines cause cancer and accused China of stealing American clouds. Several Republican senators later told reporters they were “deeply concerned” about what they witnessed.

White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt dismissed the Democratic effort as “another witch hunt.” She said Trump “remains sharp as ever” and accused Democrats of trying to overturn the 2024 election results.

The bill faces almost certain defeat in the Republican-controlled House. Speaker Mike Johnson told reporters he wouldn’t bring it to the floor, calling it “a ridiculous stunt.”

But Democrats insist the commission is needed. They point to Trump’s recent public appearances where he confused Iran with Iraq, forgot Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s name, and claimed his late father was born in Germany when Fred Trump was born in New York.

“These aren’t gaffes,” said Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, a co-sponsor. “This is a pattern of cognitive decline that endangers national security.”

The proposal would create a permanent body similar to the one outlined in Section 4 of the 25th Amendment, which allows for removal when a president is “unable to discharge the powers and duties of his office.” It has never been used against a sitting president.

Vance would face an excruciating choice if the bill somehow passed. A “yes” vote would trigger a constitutional crisis and likely end his political career. A “no” vote would preserve his place in line for the presidency while angering Trump’s critics.

The vice president’s office declined to comment on the legislation Tuesday. Vance has avoided questions about Trump’s mental state during recent public appearances, pivoting to talk about immigration and trade policy.

Constitutional scholars said the Democratic proposal tests uncharted legal territory. Professor Laurence Tribe of Harvard Law School said Congress can create such a commission, but Republicans would challenge any removal attempt in court.

“The 25th Amendment is deliberately hard to use,” Tribe said. “It requires two-thirds of both chambers plus the vice president. That’s a higher bar than impeachment.”

The bill’s introduction sparked immediate backlash from Trump’s allies. Sen. JD Vance, the vice president’s namesake, called it “sedition” on social media. Donald Trump Jr. accused Democrats of trying to “install Kamala Harris as president through the back door.”

House Republicans plan to force a procedural vote Wednesday that could kill the bill entirely. Democratic leaders said they would try to attach it as an amendment to must-pass legislation if the standalone bill fails.

Background

The 25th Amendment was ratified in 1967 after President John F. Kennedy’s assassination exposed the need for clear succession rules. Section 4, the provision Democrats want to invoke, allows removal when a president is incapacitated but refuses to step aside.

Congress has never created the type of commission Democrats now propose, though lawmakers considered one after President Ronald Reagan showed signs of Alzheimer’s disease late in his second term. Reagan was diagnosed with the disease in 1994, five years after leaving office.

Trump’s mental fitness has been questioned throughout his political career. His first impeachment trial featured witnesses who described him as increasingly erratic. Biden campaign officials privately shared similar concerns during the 2024 race, according to leaked memos published last year.

Vance’s transformation from Trump critic to loyal ally remains one of politics’ most striking conversions. The “Hillbilly Elegy” author once wrote that Trump could be America’s Hitler, then deleted the tweets and became his most aggressive defender. His reward was the vice presidency.

What’s Next

House Democrats plan to hold a press conference Wednesday with medical experts who will outline Trump’s alleged cognitive decline. They’re also recruiting Republicans who served in his first administration to testify about his mental state, though few have agreed so far.