Democrats Urged to Invoke 25th Amendment to Remove Biden

A New Yorker article argues that Democratic leaders should invoke the 25th Amendment to force President Biden out of office, citing concerns about his mental fitness.

The recent Democratic debate has sparked a wave of speculation and concern about President Biden's cognitive abilities, with some liberal commentators even suggesting he should drop out of the 2024 presidential race. However, a new article in The New Yorker has gone further, arguing that the 25th Amendment to the Constitution provides a clear mechanism for removing the president from office, even against his will.

The author, Jeannie Suk Gersen, maintains that the 25th Amendment was specifically designed for situations like this, where the president's ability to govern is in question. She argues that the recent debate performance and other signs of Biden's age-related impairment have justified the consideration of invoking the Amendment.

Democrats Urged to Invoke 25th Amendment to Remove Biden

Gersen points out that a growing number of prominent Democrats have expressed concerns about Biden's fitness for office, but have been reluctant to speak out publicly. She believes that the 25th Amendment provides a way to break the resistance to Biden leaving the race and prevent him from potentially embarrassing the party in the upcoming election.

"It is time for our leaders to realize that this is not in fact a family matter and take seriously their own constitutional responsibility to determine whether the President – not the team around him – has the capacity to govern," Gersen writes.

Democrats Urged to Invoke 25th Amendment to Remove Biden

If the 25th Amendment is invoked, Vice President Kamala Harris would automatically become president and select her own vice president. This would avoid the chaotic and potentially divisive process of selecting a new Democratic nominee, according to Gersen.

She emphasizes that using the 25th Amendment is a "better path" than allowing Biden to make the choice to step down himself, as it ensures an orderly transition and allows Harris to set the stage for her own presidency.

Democrats Urged to Invoke 25th Amendment to Remove Biden

"We would not have to fret intensely about an open convention or anticipate a divisive and bruising fight over who the nominee will be," Gersen writes. "This allows an orderly transition – in place of mayhem – in which Biden cedes smoothly to Harris and sets the stage for a campaign season focused on a version of the Biden-Harris Administration with Harris as its representative."

The article concludes with an appeal to those who might be concerned about protecting Biden's "ego and pride" by supporting his decision to run for re-election. However, Gersen argues that the presidency is a serious responsibility, and the time has come for Democratic leaders to consider using the 25th Amendment to ensure a smooth and orderly transition of power.

The White House has declined to comment on the article, referring inquiries to the Biden campaign. The campaign has not yet responded to a request for comment.