The political landscape in Washington has reached a fever pitch as a stunning new demand emerges from the heart of the conservative movement. Scott McConnell, the influential co-founder of The American Conservative, has officially called for the invocation of the 25th Amendment to remove President Donald Trump from office. This unprecedented move comes as the administration grapples with the fallout of a rapidly escalating conflict with Iran—a situation that many critics argue has spiraled beyond the President’s control. Since his high-stakes return to the White House, Trump’s “comeback” has been defined by polarizing decisions, but it was the coordinated airstrikes with Israel against Iranian targets that finally pushed some of his former allies to the breaking point.
The human cost of the current Middle East crisis is staggering, with reports indicating that over 3,000 people have been killed, including more than 1,000 civilians. As global tensions surge and the specter of a wider war looms, McConnell has taken to social media to urge Vice President JD Vance to initiate a constitutional transition. The proposal is as bold as it is controversial: McConnell suggests that Vance should not only support the 25th Amendment removal but also appoint a bipartisan figure, such as Democratic Senator Chris Murphy, as the new Vice President. The logic behind this “unity” ticket is to find a leader who is “anti-war and smart,” effectively pivoting the United States away from what McConnell describes as a path toward unnecessary genocide.
The core of McConnell’s critique lies in a devastating allegation regarding intelligence failures. He suggested that the administration may have been misled by “BS intelligence” provided by foreign allies, which the President reportedly “lapped up” while ignoring warnings from domestic intelligence agencies. This perceived failure to accurately assess the situation has, according to McConnell, led the U.S. into a conflict that is failing to produce the promised results. In an extraordinary series of posts, he advised Vance to use his position and media access to explain why this drastic step is necessary, while simultaneously announcing that he would not seek the presidency in 2028—a move intended to prove the transition is about national survival rather than personal ambition.
While President Trump has publicly maintained that “strong” talks are underway regarding a potential ceasefire, these claims have been met with immediate and harsh rejections from Iranian officials. This disconnect between White House rhetoric and the reality on the ground has fueled the fire for those seeking his removal. McConnell’s plan also suggests a role for Senator Marco Rubio, proposing that he could lead ceasefire negotiations to stabilize the region and secure his own future within the party.
The 25th Amendment, which allows the Vice President and a majority of the Cabinet to declare a president “unable to discharge the powers and duties of his office,” has never been used in this manner in American history. It is a “nuclear option” designed for medical or mental incapacity, but its potential use as a tool for political or strategic removal is now being debated in the highest circles of conservative thought. As the casualty count rises and diplomatic channels remain frozen, the question in Washington is no longer just about the next move in the war, but whether the President himself has become the greatest obstacle to ending it. For now, all eyes are on JD Vance, as the world waits to see if the Vice President will heed the call to fundamentally reshape the American executive branch in the midst of a global crisis.
