Congressional Democrats are increasingly vocal about wanting President Donald Trump out of office, but there is little agreement within the party on how to approach that goal—or whether it is even achievable in the current political landscape.
Some lawmakers have renewed calls for impeachment, with more than five dozen Democrats supporting the idea. Still, there is broad recognition that such an effort would face steep obstacles.
With Republicans controlling the House, any attempt to move articles of impeachment forward would almost certainly stall before gaining traction. Even among Democrats, there is hesitation about pursuing a strategy that is unlikely to succeed in the near term.
Rep. Madeleine Dean of Pennsylvania captured that concern, suggesting that time and energy might be better spent trying to win back congressional majorities before attempting to hold the president accountable through impeachment. Others, like Rep. Sara Jacobs of California, have taken a more open-ended approach, arguing that Democrats should not rule anything out, even if the path forward is unclear.
A separate group of Democrats has floated the idea of invoking the 25th Amendment, which allows for the removal of a president deemed unable to carry out the duties of the office. That option, however, comes with even higher barriers.
It would require support from Vice President JD Vance, a majority of Trump’s Cabinet, and ultimately a two-thirds vote in both chambers of Congress. Historically, the amendment has never been used to remove a sitting president, and many lawmakers acknowledge the political reality that such a scenario is highly unlikely.
Leadership within the party is also not fully aligned. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer has avoided endorsing either impeachment or the 25th Amendment, instead focusing on legislative tools like a war powers resolution aimed at limiting the president’s authority in the ongoing conflict with Iran. His approach reflects a preference for measures that can realistically pass or at least force debate.
In the House, Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries has taken a somewhat different tone, encouraging discussions around presidential accountability and highlighting internal briefings on constitutional options. At the same time, even House Democrats are divided. A previous attempt by Rep. Al Green to force a vote on impeachment failed, with some Democrats joining Republicans to block it.
Rep. John Larson recently introduced a sweeping set of impeachment articles, citing a range of grievances from foreign policy decisions to domestic actions. Whether that effort moves forward remains uncertain, particularly given the political dynamics in the House and Larson’s own competitive primary race.
In the Senate, calls for more aggressive action are even less common. A small group of senators has suggested impeachment or the 25th Amendment, but others have been more blunt about the limits of those strategies. Some have argued that, given the current makeup of the administration and Congress, the only viable path for Democrats is to focus on upcoming elections rather than immediate removal efforts.
