Senior House Democrat Gregory Meeks delivered a blunt assessment of his party's position on Thursday, acknowledging that efforts to impeach President Donald Trump or invoke the 25th Amendment lack the necessary votes to succeed in the Republican-controlled chamber.
The New York representative, who serves as ranking member on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, made the comments during a CNN interview where he criticized Trump's handling of escalating tensions with Iran. Meeks described the president as "incompetent" in his approach to the conflict, which has seen Trump threaten strikes on Iranian infrastructure and warn that "a whole civilization will die" in the country.
Political Reality Check
When pressed by host John Berman about whether impeachment or the 25th Amendment were viable options, Meeks offered a pragmatic political calculation. "If I'm going to be honest with you, John, and I will, you got to be able to count in this business," Meeks responded. "To do those things, you have to have the votes."
The Democrat pointed to Republican control of both chambers of Congress and the White House, noting that GOP lawmakers have resisted oversight hearings. "Realistically, I don't have the time," Meeks added. "I'm worried about the country, the country's economy, the American people, and that's where my efforts are going to be moving forward."
Democratic Pressure Campaign
Meeks' comments come amid growing calls from congressional Democrats for Trump's removal following his threats against Iran. Multiple lawmakers have urged the Cabinet to invoke the 25th Amendment over concerns about potential war crimes, while Senator Ed Markey has called for impeachment proceedings.
The political mathematics remain daunting for Democrats. Republicans maintain a 217-214 edge in the House, with Independent Kevin Kiley caucusing with the GOP. Even if Democrats could secure a simple majority for impeachment in the House, conviction in the Senate would require a two-thirds supermajority—an unlikely prospect given Republican control of the upper chamber.
Institutional Responses
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries informed his caucus that Representative Jamie Raskin and Democrats on the House Judiciary Committee will hold a virtual briefing on "Trump administration accountability and the 25th Amendment." Raskin has separately called on Vice President J.D. Vance to invoke Section 4 of the 25th Amendment, which allows the vice president and Cabinet to declare a president unfit for office.
The White House responded sharply to Democratic pressure, with spokesperson Davis Ingle calling the minority party "pathetic." "Democrats have been talking about removing President Trump since before he was even sworn into office," Ingle stated. "The Democrats in Congress are deranged, weak, and ineffective, which is why their approval ratings are at historic lows."
Broader Political Context
The impeachment discussion occurs against a backdrop of significant Republican unity behind Trump, despite some notable exceptions. Marjorie Taylor Greene recently broke with the president, claiming he's "not the same man" she previously supported. Meanwhile, House Republicans have blocked Democratic attempts to limit Trump's military authority regarding Iran.
International concerns continue to mount about the Iran standoff, with Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte warning the situation risks creating a "North Korea scenario" in the Middle East. Domestically, the focus has shifted from legislative confrontation to executive action, as Trump's threat of a special session faded when executive actions resolved the Department of Homeland Security pay crisis.
Meeks' frank assessment underscores the political reality facing Democrats as they navigate divided government while responding to what they view as presidential overreach. With Republicans controlling the legislative agenda and showing little appetite for confronting Trump, impeachment remains a theoretical rather than practical option for the opposition party.
