25th Amendment: Democrats Silent on Its Use for Biden After Pushing It for Trump

As some Republicans call for President Biden's removal under the 25th Amendment, top Democrats who advocated for its use against former President Trump have remained silent.

Former President Donald Trump faced numerous calls from prominent Democrats to invoke the 25th Amendment to remove him from office. These Democrats argued that Trump was unfit to serve, citing reasons ranging from his handling of the COVID-19 pandemic to his alleged incompetence and the Capitol Hill riot of January 6, 2021.

However, several top Democrats have remained silent on whether the 25th Amendment should be applied to President Biden, which some Republicans have suggested following his widely criticized debate performance.

25th Amendment: Democrats Silent on Its Use for Biden After Pushing It for Trump

Reps. Nancy Pelosi, Pramila Jayapal, Jamie Raskin, and Maxine Waters, as well as Sen. Chuck Schumer, have all declined to comment on the matter. These individuals had previously advocated for Trump's removal under the 25th Amendment.

The 25th Amendment authorizes the Vice President and a majority of the executive cabinet to determine whether the President is fit to continue in office.

25th Amendment: Democrats Silent on Its Use for Biden After Pushing It for Trump

During the Trump presidency, Democrats called for the 25th Amendment to be triggered against him for a variety of reasons, including his erratic behavior, spread of misinformation, and the Capitol Hill riot.

Rep. Maxine Waters stated in October 2020 that it was time to trigger the 25th Amendment based on Trump's behavior. That same month, Reps. Raskin and Pelosi introduced legislation to create a commission involving Congress in the process to remove the president if he became incapacitated.

25th Amendment: Democrats Silent on Its Use for Biden After Pushing It for Trump

Pelosi claimed that the legislation was not about Trump but rather to create a process for future presidents. She emphasized that Congress had a duty to lay out the process for determining a president's incapacity.

The legislation was a reintroduction of a bill proposed by Raskin in 2017. Raskin asserted that President Trump had thrown the country into chaos and that it was essential to establish the body called for in the 25th Amendment.

25th Amendment: Democrats Silent on Its Use for Biden After Pushing It for Trump

Following the January 6 riot, Pelosi, Raskin, Jayapal, and every Democrat in the House voted for a resolution calling on Vice President Pence to invoke the 25th Amendment and declare President Trump incapable of executing his duties.

Sen. Chuck Schumer also backed this move, stating that Trump was dangerous and should not hold office any longer.

In contrast, some Republicans have suggested triggering the 25th Amendment against Biden due to concerns about his mental abilities. Rep. Clay Higgins, for instance, suggested that President Biden had slipped into a rapid decline and that it was the Christian thing to do to remove him from office.

The White House and Biden's campaign, however, have maintained that Biden is fit to serve as president and is not dropping out of the race.