Ohio Senator J.D. Vance has called on Democrats to invoke the 25th Amendment following concerns over President Joe Biden’s capacity to serve the remainder of his term.
Vance’s comments - which aired as part of a Fox News interview with former President Donald Trump - come after President Biden, 81, revealed on Sunday that he would not be seeking reelection and has pulled out of the upcoming presidential election.
The interview, scheduled to air in full on Monday night on Jesse Watters Primetime, features a candid exchange between Trump and Vance - who has been named as the former's running mater and is vying for the vice presidential nomination.
During the discussion, Watters posed a question to Trump about the possibility of investigating Biden’s health reports, which have consistently depicted him as fit for office despite visible challenges.
Trump expressed skepticism, saying: “You had people that lied to the American public,” Trump remarked, suggesting a need for scrutiny of Biden’s medical evaluations. "You ought to take a look at his doctors because his doctors keep giving him this wonderful report."
Trump, 78, then cited a recent incident where Biden struggled to ascend the steps of Air Force One as evidence of his declining physical condition, referencing Biden’s preference for a shorter staircase as a sign of his difficulties.
The conversation then turned to Biden stepping down from the 2024 presidential election, and whether the efforts to remove Biden from office could be considered a "coup" within the Democrat party.
Both Trump and Vance expressed their belief that there is a covert attempt to unseat Biden.
Vance then argued that if Biden is indeed unable to fulfill his duties, the 25th Amendment— a constitutional mechanism for addressing presidential incapacity — should be used. "If Joe Biden can’t run for president, he can’t serve as president," Vance stated.
"And if they want to take him down because he’s mentally incapable of serving, invoke the 25th Amendment. You don’t get to sort of do this in the most politically beneficial way for Democrats.
"If it’s an actual problem, they should take care of it the appropriate way."
Vance’s call for the 25th Amendment comes in the wake of Biden’s surprising announcement that he would withdraw from the 2024 presidential race.
The decision, made public on social media, followed weeks of mounting pressure from within the Democratic Party.
While Biden did not explicitly cite health concerns as the reason for his withdrawal, the move was widely interpreted as a strategic response to fears that his age and perceived fitness might hinder his chances against former President Trump in November.
In the aftermath of Biden’s announcement, South Carolina Republican Representative Nancy Mace also advocated for the 25th Amendment to be invoked.
Mace voiced her concerns on social media, stating: “If Joe Biden does not have the cognitive ability to seek reelection, he does not have the cognitive ability to serve the remainder of his term.
"Tomorrow I will introduce a resolution calling on Kamala Harris to invoke the 25th Amendment and assume the duties of acting President.”
And in a separate tweet, Vance doubled-down on his comments, tweeting: "If Joe Biden ends his reelection campaign, how can he justify remaining President?
"Not running for reelection would be a clear admission that President Trump was right all along about Biden not being mentally fit enough to serve as Commander-in-Chief.
"There is no middle ground."
The political landscape has shifted significantly with Biden’s exit from the race. The focus now turns to Vice President Kamala Harris, who has been endorsed by Biden as his successor - a role she has voiced her intention of securing.
Speculation is rife regarding potential Democratic nominees, with names such as California Governor Gavin Newsom, former First Lady Michelle Obama, Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer, and Illinois Governor JB Pritzker being frequently mentioned.
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