Nancy Pelosi Calls on Donald Trump to Be Removed From Office Via the 25th Amendment

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi on Thursday called for President Donald Trump to be removed from office [...]

By Allison Schonter

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi on Thursday called for President Donald Trump to be removed from office through the 25th Amendment. Speaking during a weekly press briefing, Pelosi joined Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer in resounding calls for the president's immediate removal from office either by using the 25th Amendment or through impeachment — following Wednesday's attack on the Capitol.

"In calling for this seditious act, the president has committed an unspeakable assault on our nation and on our people," Pelosi said. "I join the Senate Democratic Leader in calling on the Vice President to remove this president by immediately invoking the 25th Amendment. If the Vice President and the cabinet do not act, Congress may be prepared to move forward with impeachment. That is the overwhelming sentiment of my caucus."

Pelosi's call for Trump's immediate removal from office followed the hours-long breach of the Capitol Wednesday afternoon as congressional lawmakers convened for a joint session to certify the Electoral College vote. In the weeks leading up to Jan. 6, the president had called on his supporters to gather for a "big" protest, encouraging them to "be wild!" As they gathered in Washington, D.C. Wednesday, pushing through barricades and storming the Capitol building for the first time in more than 200 years, he continued to spread his baseless claims of voter fraud, calling the rioters "very special" people whom he "loves."

In the wake of the events, a growing number of lawmakers have called for the president's "immediate" removal from office, with Trump currently having less than two weeks left in his term. Pelosi's call came just hours after Schumer called on Vice President Mike Pence to invoke the 25th Amendment, stating Trump "incited" what he called "an insurrection against the United States." Members of the GOP have also joined the calls, with Rep. Adam Kinzinger becoming the first GOP lawmaker to call for the 25th Amendment to be invoked.

Invoking the 25th Amendment would require the vice president and a majority of the Cabinet to vote to remove Trump from office. The amendment, ratified in 1967, is intended to be used when the president is unable to discharge the powers and duties of the office. Under such a scenario, the vice president would immediately take over as president. At this time, Pence has made no indication of whether or not he will invoke the 25th amendment. Amid the calls for Trump's removal, Rep. Ilhan Omar on Thursday announced she had officially drawn up articles of impeachment.

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