Former CIA Director Calls for Invoking 25th Amendment Over President's Remarks on Iran

A former Central Intelligence Agency director stated that the president should be removed from office using the 25th Amendment, citing the president's recent remarks about destroying Iranian civilization as evidence of unfitness. The official, who served during the Barack Obama administration, made the comments during an appearance on MS Now on Saturday.

The remarks were described as volatile and posing a danger to lives.

The former director said the president is a liability as commander in chief, given access to significant military resources, including the US nuclear arsenal. The 25th Amendment, added to the US Constitution in 1967, allows the vice president and a majority of the cabinet to declare the president unable to discharge duties and remove them from office.

More than 70 Democrats in Congress have called for its invocation, according to NBC News.

Context of the Remarks On April 7, the president warned that Iran's whole civilization would die if the regime did not meet an ultimatum, a statement the former director interpreted as hinting at nuclear deployment.

The comments occurred amid the president's increasing use of aggressive rhetoric toward Iran. Peace talks between the US and Iran failed on Saturday, raising concerns about potential renewed hostilities. The former director's statements contribute to a debate over the president's decision to pursue war with Iran and related threats of mass destruction.

The chances of invoking the 25th Amendment remain low, given reported loyalty from the vice president and cabinet members. Concerns about the president's language are expected to continue in light of the failed negotiations.

Background on Investigations The former director is under investigation by the US Justice Department, initiated in July under White House pressure as part of actions against perceived enemies.

The former FBI director was charged in September with two counts of lying to Congress in 2020 testimony related to the Russia election interference investigation. A judge dismissed that prosecution. The investigation into the former CIA director is ongoing, according to reports.

In March, the chair of the House Judiciary Committee stated that the inquiry was intensifying. These developments provide context for the former director's public criticism of the president.