Following President Donald Trump’s speech in Davos, Switzerland, on Wednesday—where he appeared to confuse Greenland with Iceland and took aim at European leadership while celebrating what he described as the achievements of his first year back in office—renewed calls to invoke the 25th Amendment spread rapidly online.
Social media posts urging removal of the president, including messages amplified by some Democrats, stood in stark contrast to assertions from White House officials who framed the address as a major success.
Why It Matters
Trump, like several presidents before him, has faced repeated demands to leave office—ranging from political pressure campaigns to formal impeachment proceedings during his first term. During President Joe Biden’s time in office, Trump frequently questioned Biden’s mental sharpness and criticized Democrats for not taking the issue more seriously. Now, critics are turning similar concerns back on Trump, with his health and conduct increasingly scrutinized and fueling fresh calls for the 25th Amendment.
What To Know
During his Wednesday appearance at the World Economic Forum, Trump returned to familiar themes from recent months, including his stated desire for U.S. control of Greenland.
He also criticized European leaders, officially announced a “Board of Peace,” and told an audience of CEOs that “sometimes you need a dictator.”
But for many observers, it wasn’t just the substance of the remarks—it was the delivery. Critics pointed to Trump’s style, demeanor, and physical presentation as reasons for alarm.
Democratic New York congressional candidate George Conway told podcaster Jim Acosta that the president must be held accountable, arguing for a mechanism that could independently assess whether a president is fit to serve under the 25th Amendment. Conway cited a proposed bill that would create such a body.
“We have to do that,” Conway said. “It’s one of the many things we have to do if this country is to survive.”
Calls online escalated further as more voices echoed the same demand. Some lawmakers have already publicly urged consideration of the 25th Amendment, including Massachusetts Senator Ed Markey and Arizona Representative Yassamin Ansari, both Democrats, earlier this week.
Invoking the 25th Amendment would require key members of Trump’s Cabinet—along with Vice President JD Vance—to conclude that the president is unable to discharge the powers and duties of the office. That remains highly unlikely given the current alignment inside the administration.
What People Are Saying
John Iadarola, host of The Damage Report, on X: “We are so overdue for the 25th amendment. Not just for our benefit, but for his. Grandpa needs a nice quiet retirement at Mar-a-Lago, rambling about wind mills and crashing people’s weddings.”
Brian Allen, an independent journalist and commentator, on X: “Trump is slurring at Davos. This isn’t “mean tweets” or “policy differences” anymore. It’s cognitive decline in real time with nuclear codes attached. 25th Amendment. Now.”
Dem Saints, an X account calling for members of the Church of Latter Day Saints to vote for Democrats, on Wednesday: “If Biden had confused one country for another this many times, Sean Hannity would dedicate an entire week to calling for the 25th Amendment.”
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, on X following Trump’s speech: “America is back, and the whole world knows it. @POTUS is undoubtedly the leader of the free world. He’s also the businessman, and negotiator-in-chief—and so, there was a very long list of foreign leaders and business leaders who wanted to meet with @POTUS today.”
New York Democratic Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, to reporters on Wednesday: “I think that the president has been acting in increasingly erratic ways. I think it is really damning when we think about the degree to which mass media outlets reported on Joe Biden.…Yet, we are seeing behavior from Donald Trump that is increasingly erratic and alarming, and everyone’s pretending that this is normal.”
What Happens Next
While Trump’s support has slipped in recent polling, his Cabinet and senior White House staff appear firmly aligned behind him and his agenda—making the prospect of the 25th Amendment being invoked remote for now.
