President Donald Trump sparked a strong backlash from congressional Democrats on Tuesday after posting on Truth Social that “a whole civilization will die tonight, never to be brought back again” in reference to Iran. The comment came as tensions rise over the ongoing conflict, including U.S. involvement and a deadline for Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.
This latest statement follows Trump’s earlier Easter Sunday post, in which he used strong language to threaten strikes on Iranian infrastructure if the strait remained closed. Democrats have described his rhetoric as erratic and dangerous, with many now openly discussing ways to remove him from office.
Why This Matters
At the start of Trump’s second term, talk of impeachment or invoking the 25th Amendment was largely off-limits among Democrats. Now, frustration over what they call unconstitutional actions and foreign policy decisions — including U.S. strikes on Venezuela and Iran — has pushed some lawmakers to consider drastic steps. Grassroots anger within the Democratic Party has encouraged members of Congress to speak more boldly about removal options.
The 25th Amendment allows the vice president and a majority of the Cabinet to declare that a president is unable to perform their duties. If invoked, Congress would then need a two-thirds vote in both the House and Senate to make the removal permanent. Impeachment, by contrast, requires a House majority to charge the president and a two-thirds Senate vote to convict and remove.
Key Voices Among Democrats
Rep. Yassamin Ansari (D-Ariz.), an Iranian-American lawmaker and president of the House Democrats’ freshman class, was among the first to respond. She urged Trump’s Cabinet to invoke the 25th Amendment, saying the lives of U.S. troops, Iranian civilians, and the international order were at risk.
Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.) posted on X: “This is not ok. Invoke the 25th amendment. Impeach. Remove. This unhinged lunatic must be removed from office.”
Several other House Democrats echoed these calls on Tuesday. Those explicitly supporting the 25th Amendment included Reps. Mark Pocan (D-Wis.), Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.), Diana DeGette (D-Colo.), Shri Thanedar (D-Mich.), Sydney Kamlager-Dove (D-Calif.), Melanie Stansbury (D-N.M.), Ro Khanna (D-Calif.), Maxwell Frost (D-Fla.), Julie Johnson (D-Texas), and Johnny Olszewski (D-Md.).
Others, such as Reps. Nikema Williams (D-Ga.), Delia Ramirez (D-Ill.), Seth Moulton (D-Mass.), Ayanna Pressley (D-Mass.), and Summer Lee (D-Pa.), renewed demands for impeachment or simply called for Trump’s removal. Sen. Ed Markey (D-Mass.) also backed impeachment efforts.
Even some lawmakers who stopped short of naming the amendment made strong statements. Rep. Betty McCollum (D-Minn.), a senior member of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense, said the Cabinet should take notice. Rep. Sarah McBride (D-Del.) declared, “Trump must go — and Republicans… must join Democrats in using any and all constitutional powers.” Rep. Seth Magaziner (D-R.I.) described Trump as “increasingly erratic and dangerous” and said the country needs new leadership.
Behind the Scenes
According to sources familiar with the discussions, rank-and-file House Democrats are coordinating on possible collective action, such as forcing an impeachment vote or sending a formal letter to the Cabinet urging use of the 25th Amendment. These talks have not yet reached top Democratic leadership. Instead, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries and other senior figures are focusing on pushing for a vote on war powers related to Iran later this month.
Republican Reactions
The White House pushed back sharply. Spokesperson Davis Ingle called the Democratic response “pathetic,” noting that critics have discussed impeaching Trump since before his second term began. Ingle described congressional Democrats as “deranged, weak, and ineffective,” pointing to their low approval ratings.
Not all Republicans defended the president. Rep. Don Bacon (R-Neb.), a centrist who sometimes differs with Trump, said the president was simply “negotiating Trump style.” He added that Persian civilization could thrive again once freed from the Ayatollahs’ rule. Former Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.), who has broken with Trump on some issues including Iran, also called for invoking the 25th Amendment.
As the deadline for Iran approaches and the conflict continues, the divide in Washington has grown sharper. Democrats argue that Trump’s statements and actions threaten national security and the Constitution, while supporters see his approach as tough, necessary leadership in a dangerous situation. Whether these removal discussions lead to any formal action remains uncertain, but the volume of criticism marks a notable shift in the political landscape.