Democrats’ calls to invoke the 25th Amendment intensified after President Trump suggests deploying troops in U.S. cities as “training grounds.”
President Donald Trump is facing renewed calls for removal from office under the 25th Amendment after suggesting that American cities could be used as “training grounds” for the U.S. military.
During an unprecedented meeting with senior military leaders in Virginia this week, Trump reportedly urged the use of active-duty troops in cities like Chicago to confront violent crime. His remarks sparked outrage among Democrats, veterans, and former defense officials, who accused the president of promoting “authoritarian and un-American” ideas.
Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker was among the first to call for Trump’s removal, saying the president’s comments showed signs of “cognitive decline.” “It appears that Donald Trump not only has dementia setting in, but he’s copying the tactics of [Russian President] Vladimir Putin,” Pritzker said. “There is something genuinely wrong with this man, and the 25th Amendment ought to be invoked.”
His remarks were echoed by Democratic congressman Eric Swalwell, who posted “25TH AMENDMENT!” on social media as Trump addressed military officials.
The White House dismissed the criticism as politically motivated. Spokeswoman Abigail Jackson called Pritzker “a slob of a governor,” accusing him of presiding over “raging crime” in Chicago. “President Trump is deeply concerned with the safety and security of all Americans,” she said. “He’s stepping in where J.B. failed.”
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Trump’s speech drew sharp condemnation from within the defense community. Retired Army General Barry McCaffrey described it as “one of the most bizarre, unsettling events I’ve ever encountered,” while Air Force veteran Gretchen Klingler said the rhetoric “betrays the democratic principles our military is sworn to defend.”
The 25th Amendment allows the vice president and a majority of the Cabinet to declare a U.S. President unfit to discharge the duties of office, temporarily transferring power to the vice president. However, with Vice President JD Vance and most Cabinet members standing firmly behind Trump, any serious move to oust him remains highly unlikely.
Trump’s critics say his recent comments reflect a deepening instability within his administration, while his allies insist the President is acting decisively to restore order in crime-ridden cities.
As political divisions deepen, the latest controversy underscores the enduring volatility surrounding Trump’s presidency and his relationship with the military establishment.
