Democrats demand GOP dump Trump, end war. When will Congress vote? – Delawareonline.com
More than 70 congressional Democrats have called for President Donald Trump’s removal from office, questioning his mental fitness after he threatened on Tuesday to destroy “a whole civilization” if Iran didn’t comply with US demands.
Other Democrats have called on Congress to pass a War Powers Resolution to rein Trump in, urging Congress to return from spring recess to take a vote.
Ahead of a two-week US-Iran ceasefire agreement to negotiate a 10-point peace plan and reopen the Strait of Hormuz, lawmakers suggested Trump’s Easter message threats were grounds for Congress to impeach the president, or to strip him of his presidential powers through the 25th Amendment.
Rep. Joaquin Castro, a Texas Democrat, called on the vice president and members of the Cabinet — the heads of 15 executive departments under Trump — to declare the president “unable to discharge the powers and duties of his office,” as noted in the 25th Amendment.
Across both Congressional chambers — the Senate and House — more than a quarter have called for Trump’s removal, including Rep. Nancy Pelosi, of California, and Rep. Sara Jacobs, a California Democrat. Some conservatives and recent Trump allies also took up the call, including conspiracy theorist Alex Jones, former White House official Anthony Scaramucci, and former U.S. Rep Marjorie Taylor Greene, a Georgia Republican, who posted on X, “25TH AMENDMENT!!!” before calling Trump’s words “evil and madness.”
Trump’s threats to strike power plants and other civilian infrastructure roiled other Democrats. While not explicitly calling on impeachment, Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, a New York Democrat and the House minority leader, told CNN he planned to present a war powers resolution on the House floor.
In a post on X, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer called Trump a “military moron,” supporting efforts to rein in Trump’s power to continue waging war on Iran. A previous resolution in the House failed by a narrow vote, with 212 voting in favor, and 219 voting against.
What happens next? Will the House return to vote on Trump’s war powers? Will Congress vote to impeach Trump or remove Trump from office? When does the House return? Here’s what to know.
Congress could impeach and remove President Donald Trump. The House has to power to impeach Trump, and the Senate has the power to remove Trump from office. While dozens of Democrats have called for Trump’s impeachment or removal via the 25th Amendment, Republicans control both chambers of Congress, though narrowly:
To impeach President Donald Trump, the House needs to vote “yes” by a simple majority, meaning that of the members present, 50% + 1 of those voting have to vote “yes.” For example, when the House is full at 435 members and all vote, a simple majority is 218 votes. Absent members make that simple majority number go down, as do any members who vote “present” instead of for or against the vote.
The Senate can remove President Donald Trump from office in a two-thirds majority vote (67 votes) after impeachment. If the House were to impeach Trump, his removal would require a Senate impeachment trial. The Senate is tasked with whether to convict on the articles of impeachment and not to decide whether to impeach.
With Republicans controlling the House, a successful impeachment would require a large number of Republicans to join Democrats to impeach President Donald Trump. While some Republicans have been vocal about Trump’s Iran war threats, there does not appear to be enough evidence of bipartisan support, particularly in the Senate.
The House impeaches, or brings charges, against the sitting president. Then, the Senate conducts a trial, with senators acting as jurors, House members acting as prosecutors, the president’s legal team acting as the defense, and the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court presiding. Two-thirds majority of senators present must vote “guilty” in order to convict on each individual article of impeachment.
A House vote on Trump’s war powers (War Powers Resolution) could happen as soon as Tuesday, April 14, 2026, when the House returns to Washington DC following their spring recess. A few members of the House have conducted “pro forma” sessions this week, but no debate, votes or actions have taken place.
The 25th Amendment in the U. S Constitution explains what happens when a president can’t do their job, either temporarily or permanently.
Typically, lawmakers and detractors are referring to Section 4 when they invoke the 25th Amendment. That section spells out a process that allows the Cabinet and the vice president to declare a president unfit to serve.
Lori Comstock is a New Jersey-based news reporter covering trending news with USA TODAY Network’s Mid-Atlantic Connect Team. She covers news in the Northeast, including New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Washington DC, Maryland, and Virginia. Reach her at LComstock@usatodayco.com.