Several top Democrats who demanded the use of the 25th Amendment to remove former President Trump from office have remained silent on whether the same measure should be considered for President Biden, despite concerns about his mental fitness.
In the wake of President Biden's widely criticized debate performance, some Republicans have raised the possibility of invoking the 25th Amendment to remove him from office due to concerns about his mental abilities. However, several top Democrats who previously called for the use of the 25th Amendment against former President Trump have remained conspicuously silent on the issue.
Democrats' 25th Amendment Silence on Biden after Trump Era Calls
Fox News Digital reached out to Reps. Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif.; Pramila Jayapal, D-Wash.; Jamie Raskin, D-Md.; and Maxine Waters, D-Calif., along with Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., for comment on whether the 25th Amendment should be in play with President Biden as they suggested it should be for former President Trump. All of them declined to comment.
Section 4 of the 25th Amendment authorizes the vice president and a majority of the executive cabinet to make the decision whether the president is fit to continue in office or not. Biden's declining mental acuity has raised concerns among some political observers, who cite his frequent gaffes, apparent loss of focus, and inability to recall names and events.
Democrats' 25th Amendment Silence on Biden after Trump Era Calls
Notably, during the Trump presidency, Democrats vehemently called for the 25th Amendment to be triggered against the president. They cited various reasons, including the coronavirus pandemic, Trump's alleged incompetence, and the January 6, 2021, Capitol Hill riot.
For instance, Rep. Maxine Waters told MSNBC in October 2020 that it was time to trigger the 25th Amendment against Trump due to his "erratic and bizarre behavior" and "spreading the virus personally." Similarly, Rep. Jamie Raskin and Speaker Nancy Pelosi introduced legislation in the lead-up to the 2020 presidential election to create a commission involving Congress in the process to remove the president if he became "incapacitated."
Democrats' 25th Amendment Silence on Biden after Trump Era Calls
Some have argued that the Democrats' current lack of support for invoking the 25th Amendment against Biden is because they believe Trump was unfit for office while Biden is not. However, the decline in Biden's mental abilities has become increasingly evident in recent months, leading some to question whether his current mental state meets the standard of fitness for office.
Following Biden's poor debate performance, several Republicans have floated the idea of triggering the 25th Amendment. Rep. Clay Higgins, R-La., stated that Biden has "slipped into a rapid decline" and urged his removal from office "gently."
Democrats' 25th Amendment Silence on Biden after Trump Era Calls
The White House and Biden campaign have maintained that Biden is not dropping out of the race and is fit to serve as president. However, the concerns about Biden's mental health persist, and the Democrats' silence on the 25th Amendment raises questions about whether they are willing to hold the president accountable for his declining cognitive abilities.
