Politics
Illinois Democrats Call for Removing Trump From Office After ‘Whole Civilization Will Die’ Threat to Iran
Video: Joining “Chicago Tonight” to discuss the 25th Amendment is Daniel Rodriguez, professor of law at Northwestern University. (Produced by Andrew Montequin)
A group of elected officials in Illinois is calling for President Donald Trump’s removal from office after he threatened that “a whole civilization will die tonight” in a social media post about Iran on Tuesday.
Trump said in a social media post Tuesday that “a whole civilization will die tonight, never to be brought back again,” if Iran failed to make a deal in time that included reopening the Strait of Hormuz. On Tuesday night, Trump announced a two-week ceasefire between the U.S. and Iran.
Trump’s comments were met with condemnation from Democrats, some former supporters, some sitting Republicans and Chicago-born Pope Leo XIV.
Several Democratic elected officials in Illinois released statements calling for Trump to be impeached, including calling for the 25th Amendment to be invoked. The 25th Amendment would require the vice president and a majority of Cabinet members to declare a president unfit for office in order for the president to be removed.
“This is not foreign policy, it’s a deranged mad man threatening to wipe out an entire country. It’s past time. The 25th Amendment must be invoked.”
“For over a year we’ve suffered through Donald Trump’s raging chaos as he’s started a global trade war, terrorized our communities, and now thrown us into an unjustified war with Iran and threatened to wipe out an entire nation. We know that he is deranged, unfit for office, and endangering us all. The 25th Amendment exists for a reason. Use it.”
U.S. Rep. Delia Ramirez (3rd District)
“Trump’s unhinged threats of violence and genocide are inexcusable. He is a warmonger, escalating the conflict for his own profit and consolidation of power. My Republican colleagues can’t keep turning a blind eye. He must be stopped and impeached.”
U.S. Rep. Mike Quigley (5th District)
“Every day, Donald Trump commits acts unfit for the office of the President. This morning, he’s reached a new level of unhinged—threatening to blow an entire country off the planet.
These threats make America less safe and are driving us towards another Great Recession. Because of that, I’m officially calling for the Cabinet to remove him from office under the 25th Amendment. If they can’t, Congress must return from recess today and begin impeachment proceedings.
As a leader during the very first impeachment proceedings, I look forward to seeing the President in the hearing room. I’m encouraging all Democrats and Republicans to stand together and stand up for common sense.”
U.S. Rep. Sean Casten (6th District)
“The president’s threat to wipe out an entire civilization is dangerous, reckless, and would constitute a war crime under both domestic and international law. This rhetoric undermines U.S. credibility, endangers civilians, and places American personnel in untenable legal, moral, and mortal jeopardy. Anyone in the Trump Administration who acts on this threat and violates the law must be held accountable, including criminal liability.
The urgency of the situation demands immediate action. This is the type of moment the 25th Amendment was drafted to address. The president is unfit to serve, and lives are at stake. The entire chain of command has a responsibility in this moment to step up and put their country over their loyalty to the president.”
U.S. Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi (8th District)
“In light of Donald Trump’s threat that ‘a whole civilization will die tonight,’ Vice President Vance and the Cabinet must immediately invoke the 25th Amendment to remove him from office. This latest threat is not an isolated incident, but part of a dangerous pattern of reckless escalation, erratic decision-making, and general conduct that raises grave questions about his fitness to discharge the duties of the presidency and safeguard the security and well-being of the American people. At a moment when the lives of millions and the prospect of wider war hang in the balance, immediate action is necessary.”
U.S. Rep. Jan Schakowsky (9th District)
“Donald Trump’s words, ‘a whole civilization will die tonight, never to be brought back again,’ are more than empty threats. His reckless actions and statements are putting the American people in harm’s way and threatening global stability.
“Someone this unstable, whose behavior endangers the nation, should not remain in office. Republicans who stay silent are complicit. The 25th Amendment must be invoked. If Trump’s Cabinet is too cowardly to act, Congress must do its duty and begin impeachment proceedings before more damage is done.
“Constituents are calling my office in tears. They are terrified. I have always recognized the threat posed by Iran’s hardline regime. Iran should never be permitted to have a nuclear weapon. That is why I helped negotiate the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) and lead efforts to ensure it was implemented. This successful diplomatic agreement cut off every pathway to an Iranian nuclear weapon until Trump single-handedly tore it up in 2018. We would not be in this situation today if diplomacy had not been abandoned.
“Trump’s dangerous rhetoric cannot be normalized. We must act immediately to hold this administration accountable and protect the American people.”
U.S. Rep. Lauren Underwood (14th District)
“Donald Trump is unstable, dangerous, and unable to function as Commander in Chief. His illegal war in Iran needs to end and he must be removed immediately. It’s time to invoke the 25th Amendment.”
Other Democratic Members of the Illinois Congressional Delegation Criticize Trump and the War
“Donald Trump just threatened to unilaterally destroy an entire civilization. Is there genuinely no limit to what Republicans will allow this unhinged, unwell man to do? Congress must come back to Washington to rein in this dangerous behavior immediately.”
“President Trump’s comments, including threatening the death of “a whole civilization” continue to embarrass our nation and risk an even greater military and economic quagmire. When will Congressional Republicans stand up to President Trump’s risky war of choice?”
U.S. Rep. Jonathan Jackson (1st District)
“The world stands witness as Trump announces his intent to commit war crimes so casually. Republicans continue to enable this illegal, reckless escalation by refusing to stand for Congress’ Constitutional responsibility to rein in unchecked power. Congress must reconvene immediately and vote to end this war. Our nation, and the world, demand leadership rooted in shared humanity with the moral courage to pursue justice and peace.”
U.S. Rep. Robin Kelly (2nd District)
“Donald Trump’s threat to wipe out an entire civilization is pure evil. That is not how a President should speak or lead. He plunged the Middle East into chaos, cost US troops their lives, and exacerbated the cost of living at home. Speaker Johnson needs to call the House in NOW so Congress can end this war.”
U.S. Rep. Jesús “Chuy” García (4th District)
“Trump is threatening the Iranian people with genocide on social media. He’s also asking for $1.5 trillion for the Pentagon. Congress must be clear and deliberate: pass a War Powers Resolution, oppose supplemental war funding, and explore options to keep this madman from getting us all killed.”
U.S. Rep. Brad Schneider (10th District) in a joint statement with U.S. Rep. Greg Casar of Texas:
“Our nation now finds itself facing the stark reality of the President of the United States openly threatening to wipe out a ‘whole civilization’ — a clear and unambiguous war crime. This comes after weeks of contradictory proclamations and phantom red lines that have consistently undermined America’s ability to bring this costly war to an end.
“Put simply, the President is unhinged, deranged, and must be stopped.
“President Trump’s language does not reflect the will of the American people. Threatening to murder a ‘whole civilization’ is not who we are, nor who we aspire to be.
“Congress, Republicans and Democrats together, have a duty and responsibility to hold the President in check. We must immediately reconvene to take the reins from the President and end the war.”
U.S. Rep. Bill Foster (11th District)
The President of the United States openly threatening to wipe out an entire civilization is nauseating and un-American. A president’s words carry real consequences, and they should be used to de-escalate conflict, not push us closer to the brink. This is precisely why our Founding Fathers gave Congress the authority to declare war, rather than any single power-crazed individual.
Now is the time for Republicans to do what they know is right: speak out and join Democrats to take action to stop this administration before this war of choice spirals further out of control.
U.S. Rep. Nikki Budzinski (13th District)
“This is reckless and continues to become more unbelievable by the day. The President has never made a clear case for this war or explained a plan for what happens next. Now he’s threatening to erase an entire civilization. This is terrifying. It’s on all of us — across party lines — to stand up for humanity and the rule of law.”
U.S. Rep. Eric Sorensen (17th District)
“Donald Trump promised to lower costs and end foreign wars. Voters took him at his word. But instead, he is threatening a level of conflict in the Middle East that would be catastrophic and irreversible.
“An escalating war in Iran would cause so much pain and suffering, a new threat for our troops, and the threat of $5 or $6 gas back home.
“I will be returning to Washington D.C. this week and call on Speaker Johnson to bring the House to order so we can end this nightmare. We only need a few House Republicans to stand up and do the right thing.
“There’s no time to spare.”
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Contact Eunice Alpasan: [email protected]
