John Brennan, the former director of the Central Intelligence Agency, has added his name to a growing chorus of voices arguing that Donald Trump is unfit for office and should be removed from the presidency.
Brennan, who led the CIA during Barack Obama’s presidency, said the US constitution’s 25th amendment — which provides a mechanism for involuntary removal from office — was “written with Donald Trump in mind.”
Speaking to MS Now on Saturday, Brennan said Trump’s recent comments about destroying Iranian civilization showed that the president was “clearly unhinged.” He argued that the remarks, along with the danger he said Trump posed to many lives, justified removing him from the Oval Office.
The comments come amid increasing calls from critics who say Trump should be ousted on the grounds that he is not fit to serve. Brennan’s intervention is notable because of his high-level national security background and his long tenure at the CIA.
The 25th amendment is the constitutional provision that addresses the inability of a president to perform the duties of the office and sets out a process for involuntary removal in certain circumstances. Brennan suggested that the framers of the provision had a figure like Trump in mind when they wrote it.
Trump’s remarks on Iran have drawn attention for their volatility, and Brennan’s criticism reflects deeper concerns among opponents of the president over his judgment and the risks they believe he presents.
His remarks add fresh pressure to an already charged debate over Trump’s conduct and fitness for office, as calls for his removal continue to gain attention.
