John Brennan, the former director of the Central Intelligence Agency, has called for Donald Trump to be removed from office via the 25th amendment, arguing that the constitutional provision was 'written with Donald Trump in mind'. Speaking on MS Now on Saturday, Brennan described the US president as 'clearly unhinged' and said Trump's recent threats against Iran demonstrated his unfitness for office.
Brennan's comments come amid escalating tensions between the US and Iran. On 7 April, Trump warned that Iran's 'whole civilisation will die tonight' if the Iranian regime did not meet his demands. Brennan said such volatile remarks hinted at the potential use of nuclear weapons, adding that Trump was too dangerous to remain commander-in-chief with control over the nation's massive firepower, including its nuclear arsenal.
The former CIA chief, who served under President Barack Obama, joins a growing number of Democrats in Congress calling for the 25th amendment to be invoked. More than 70 Democratic lawmakers have backed the measure, according to NBC News. The amendment, adopted in 1967, allows the vice-president and a majority of the cabinet to remove the president if he is deemed 'unable to discharge the powers and duties of his office'.
However, the prospect of such a move remains extremely slim, given the steadfast loyalty of Vice-President JD Vance and the entire cabinet to Trump. The failure of US-Iran peace talks on Saturday and the ongoing threat of renewed hostilities have further heightened concerns about Trump's increasingly aggressive rhetoric.
Brennan's remarks are particularly notable as he is under active investigation by Trump's Department of Justice, part of the president's campaign against perceived enemies. The justice department launched a criminal investigation into Brennan and former FBI director James Comey in July 2019. While Comey's prosecution was later thrown out, the investigation into Brennan is said to be ongoing, with Trump ally and House judiciary committee chair Jim Jordan claiming in March that the inquiry was 'heating up'.
