Citing 'Madness,' Democrats Seek to Impeach Trump
President Trump’s threat to "erase a civilization" triggers a Capitol Hill firestorm. As dozens of lawmakers call for impeachment and the 25th Amendment, the White House claims victory: "It brought the regime to its knees." Is the U.S. facing its third Trump impeachment?
President Donald Trump's threat to wipe out an entire "civilization" has broken the restraint most Democrats had maintained regarding impeachment during his second term, according to the Associated Press.
Dozens of Democratic members of Congress have issued public statements declaring Trump unfit for office, calling for either impeachment proceedings or the invocation of the 25th Amendment, which would allow the Vice President and Cabinet to declare the president unable to carry out his duties.
"We cannot excuse what the president said as a negotiating tactic," California Representative Sara Jacobs told reporters on Capitol Hill Thursday. "It's important that even if we achieved this ceasefire, which I pray holds, we hold the president accountable for what he threatened to do. Threatening genocide violates not only international law but our own federal law."
Democratic leaders in both chambers are pushing Republicans to join legislation that would require Trump to seek congressional approval before launching further strikes on Iran. During a brief House session Thursday, several Democrats attempted to bring a war powers resolution to a vote, but the Republican majority blocked the effort.
The White House has defended Trump's rhetoric, with press secretary Karoline Leavitt arguing it proved effective. "It caused the Iranian regime to come to its knees, request a ceasefire, and agree to reopen the Strait of Hormuz," she said Wednesday.
Trump was impeached twice during his first term, over the Ukraine affair and the January 6 Capitol riot, but was acquitted by the Senate both times. Republicans have already easily defeated two earlier impeachment attempts during his second term, with a number of Democrats joining them or voting "present."
Democratic Representative Seth Moulton of Massachusetts was direct: "Temporary ceasefire or not, Trump has already committed an impeachable offense. Congress needs to get back to work and remove him before he does more damage."
It remains unclear how House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries will handle renewed impeachment pressure. Democratic leadership is expected to hold a conference call Friday with members of the House Judiciary Committee focused on "Trump administration accountability and the 25th Amendment."
Pennsylvania Democrat Madeleine Dean said Thursday she supports impeachment but is tempering the demand given the minority's position, instead urging Republicans to act — including through the 25th Amendment. "The president brought the entire world to witness his madness," she said.