Could the 25th Amendment be invoked against Trump? Here's how it works

Key Points:

• Some Republicans have called for former President Joe Biden's removal under the 25th Amendment following concerns about his memory and debate performance, but such a move is highly unlikely due to political support for Biden's successor, Donald Trump.
• The 25th Amendment allows the vice president and a majority of the Cabinet to declare a president unable to perform duties, temporarily transferring power, but requires a two-thirds congressional vote for permanent removal.
• Legal experts emphasize the amendment focuses on physical or mental incapacity, not misconduct or unpopular decisions, and political realities make its invocation against Trump improbable given his strong backing from Vice President JD Vance, the Cabinet, and most Republicans in Congress.
• The amendment was ratified in 1967 following concerns about presidential disability after JFK's assassination, with intentionally broad language to cover various incapacity scenarios but not designed for political removal.
• Trump has referenced the 25th Amendment in the context of potential threats to his presidency, highlighting the political sensitivity surrounding its use.