Group of Former Trump Allies Openly Questions His Fitness and Calls for the 25th Amendment

U.S. President Donald Trump is facing growing criticism from people who, until recently, belonged to his most loyal supporters. Several former allies and conservative commentators are openly questioning his fitness to hold office, and some are calling for the activation of the 25th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which allows for the removal of a president. The New Republic ↗

The trigger for the criticism was Trump's behavior during the escalation of the conflict with Iran. On the social network Truth Social, the president threatened to destroy "the whole civilization" and called on Iran to "open up that f*cking strait, you crazy bastards, or you will live in hell." The language and tone of the posts sparked concern across the political spectrum. Middle East Eye ↗

Ty Cobb, Trump's former White House lawyer in 2017-2018, said in a podcast interview: "I think he's gone," calling the president "clearly insane." According to Cobb, Trump's late-night social media posts and his decision-making in the Iran conflict without consulting allies point to a "significant decline." He also criticized the cabinet for "not using the 25th Amendment on a man who is clearly not of sound mind." Newsweek ↗

Among the critics are also several prominent figures from Trump's broader media and political circle. Former Republican congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene wrote: "25TH AMENDMENT!!! Not a single bomb has fallen on America. We can't kill an entire civilization. This is evil and insane." Conservative commentator Candace Owens called Trump a "genocidal madman" and demanded intervention by Congress and the military. Alex Jones, once one of Trump's loudest supporters, asked his viewers: "How do we get him out with the 25th Amendment?" Tucker Carlson, on his podcast, called on White House staff to "find out the nuclear football codes themselves, because everything is hanging by a thread." The New Republic ↗

The criticism was further fueled by an AI-generated image that Trump shared on Truth Social on Sunday evening — depicting him in iconography reminiscent of Jesus Christ, in a long white robe, holding a glowing orb, healing a man on a hospital bed. He shared it shortly after the attack on Pope Leo XIV. Evangelical pastor Joel Webbon, founder of Right Response Ministries and an outspoken Christian nationalist, responded: "I honestly believe Trump is currently possessed by a demon." Megan Basham of the conservative outlet Daily Wire wrote: "I don't know if the president thought this was funny... he needs to take it down immediately and ask for forgiveness." Nineteen-year-old MAGA influencer Brilyn Hollyhand added: "This is gross blasphemy. Faith is not a prop." Greene reacted to the image with the words: "It's more than blasphemy. It's the spirit of the Antichrist." Newsweek ↗ AlterNet ↗

Trump deleted the image on Monday morning, claiming that in it he was not depicted as Jesus, but as a doctor. The explanation failed to convince many — the figure in the image had no medical attributes, and the scene resembled classic depictions of biblical healing. CBS News ↗

CNN analyzes the growing criticism of Trump from among his own supporters and the discussion of the 25th Amendment to the Constitution:



At the political level, Congressman Jamie Raskin, the ranking Democrat on the House Judiciary Committee, formally requested that the White House physician conduct a cognitive and neurological examination of the president. According to Axios, more than 80 Democratic lawmakers have joined the call. The White House announced that Trump underwent a cognitive test with "normal" results. Axios ↗

Under the Constitution, activating the 25th Amendment would require a majority of the cabinet and the vice president's consent. There is no indication that Vice President J.D. Vance or members of the current cabinet are considering such a step. The calls from former allies thus remain more political pressure than a real mechanism for change. However, the very fact that several prominent conservatives are openly questioning the president's fitness points to tension even within influential parts of his support coalition.