In a statement today, the National LGBTQ Task Force called for the “immediate removal” of President Trump by invoking the 25th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.
The statement by Rea Carey, Executive Director of the National LGBTQ Task Force and Action Fund, reads as follows:
“Donald Trump has been, continues to be, and will remain a threat to democracy, the U.S. Constitution, and human life every day he remains in office. While his attempted coup has failed, he and his supporters are a threat to democracy and will be as long as he is in power.
The National LGBTQ Task Force and National LGBTQ Task Force Action Fund call for the immediate removal of Donald Trump under the 25th Amendment.
Even if today were January 19th, the time left in Trump’s term would be too long. If Donald Trump were to stay in office for a mere 24 hours, it would be too long and too risky. If Trump is able to make one more call to the Acting Secretary of Defense, it would be one call too many. If Trump is able to push through one more regulation, it would be one too many. He abandoned his post and responsibility long ago, and we have watched in horror with each swing of his golf club, as more Americans die.
For his entire administration, and especially today, he has rhetorically spat on the right of assembly and free speech by inciting violence as Congress today fulfills its duty to certify the election. The domestic terrorist attack on the Capital today was not merely incited by Trump but orchestrated and organized by Trump and his enablers using misinformation, lies, and conspiracy theories.
Trump has desecrated the memories of generations before us who, even when abused by the very country they loved, resolved to make it better, to leave a better country for their children and grandchildren. Americans have suffered his abuse of power and his practice of tyranny for far too long, and his delusional display of narcissistic coup fantasies have thankfully fallen short.
We condemn the violence in Washington, DC, and in communities across the country that has been incited by today’s attack on the Capitol building. We are better than this. To move forward, we must begin by making the strongest statement possible and remove Trump from office using the power of the 25th Amendment.”
Section 4 of the 25th Amendment allows any President to be removed from office by his cabinet if he or she is deemed to be unavble to discharge his or her Constituional duties.
It reads, “Whenever the Vice President and a majority of either the principal officers of the executive departments or of such other body as Congress may by law provide, transmit to the President pro tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives their written declaration that the President is unable to discharge the powers and duties of his office, the Vice President shall immediately assume the powers and duties of the office as Acting President.”
