Trump says he supports ‘modifying’ the 25th Amendment

Former President Trump said he supports “modifying” the 25th Amendment so that it would permit the ouster of a U.S. vice president who “lies or engages in a conspiracy to cover up the incapacity of the president of the United States.” 

Trump told his supporters at a rally in Mosinee, Wis., that “if you do that with a cover-up of the president of the United States, it’s grounds for impeachment immediately and removal from office, because that’s what they did.” 

Trump’s support for the expansion of the 25th Amendment comes as he and other Republicans have gone after Vice President Harris, accusing her of covering up the condition of President Biden’s mental state after the commander in chief’s disastrous debate performance in late June and his decision to not seek another term in office. Shortly after the debate, Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) and other Republicans said that members of Biden’s Cabinet should consider utilizing the 25th Amendment to remove him. 

To ratify an amendment to the Constitution, three-fourths of state legislatures would need to approve it. Trump was impeached twice by the House of Representatives during his 4-year term in office. He was never convicted in the Senate. 

The ex-president’s idea about the 25th Amendment comes as he probes ways to go after his new political rival and adjust to the current dynamics of the race. Despite Biden’s decision in late July, Trump has continued to go after the president at some of his rallies. Trump has accused Democrats of engaging in a “coup” in pressuring Biden to step aside and leave room for a new ticket to be formed. 

The Hill has reached out to Harris’s campaign for comment.