As calls for him to step down intensify within the Democratic Party following a lackluster debate performance, Joe Biden is facing renewed pressure from GOP figures. Notably, House Speaker Mike Johnson of Louisiana, alongside other prominent pundits and lawmakers, is advocating for the use of the 25th Amendment to potentially remove Biden from office and elevate Vice President Kamala Harris to the presidency.
Speaker Mike Johnson says the 25th Amendment is appropriate for Biden. pic.twitter.com/5ca1OJwU1a [1]
— Robert Gouveia Esq. (@RobGouveiaEsq) July 9, 2024 [2]
Biden’s commitment to his reelection campaign persists despite internal divisions, with concerns over his leadership abilities growing in the wake of the recent debate. The proposition to invoke the 25th Amendment gains momentum as critics and supporters alike question his capacity to effectively lead the country.
House Speaker Mike Johnson’s endorsement of exploring this avenue reveals a growing sentiment within the GOP regarding the president’s fitness for office. If pursued, such a move would bring significant changes to the current administration, entrusting Vice President Kamala Harris with the responsibilities of the presidency.
Key 25th Amendment facts as reported by Forbes [3]:
The 25th Amendment states the vice president shall replace a president if they die in office or resign, or if members of the president’s cabinet declare the president unable to fulfill the duties of their office.
Under the amendment—which was passed in the aftermath of John F. Kennedy’s assassination—the vice president and the majority of 15 principal officers of the president’s cabinet can give “their written declaration” that the president is “unable to discharge the powers and duties of” the presidency.
That declaration would then be sent to the House speaker and the Senate president, at which point the vice president would “immediately assume” the powers of the presidency, according to Section 4 of the 25th Amendment.
But the president could veto the cabinet’s declaration and resume the position as president.
At that point, the cabinet and vice president would have a four-day window to decide whether or not to effectively override the president’s objection, at which point Congress would have 48 hours to meet, and both the House and Senate need to vote on whether the president is “unable to discharge the powers and duties” of the office—both votes require a two-thirds majority.