California Governor Gavin Newsom ignited a political firestorm Thursday evening when he called for the 25th Amendment to be invoked against President Donald Trump, describing his election integrity speech as the «rambling of a mad king.» The remark drew swift backlash from conservatives who accused Newsom of hypocrisy for defending former President Joe Biden's cognitive state during his administration.
Newsom made the statement on social media after Trump addressed the nation, claiming newly declassified documents revealed election vulnerabilities, including foreign data theft by China and evidence of election fraud. Fox News Digital could not independently verify the content of the documents released by the White House. Newsom dismissed the speech as an attempt to «rig the election in 2026,» arguing Trump knows he will lose and is laying groundwork to challenge results.
The 25th Amendment, ratified in 1967, allows the Cabinet to deem the president unfit for duty or allows Congress to establish an independent body to make that determination. Newsom's call aligns with preexisting efforts by some Democrats to examine Trump's cognitive performance, but critics quickly pointed out that similar concerns about Biden were dismissed by the same party during his term.
The Republican National Committee's official X account responded sharply, writing, «You literally propped up a vegetable and lied to the American people about his cognitive decline for four years and never mentioned the 25th amendment once.» This referred to widespread Republican doubts about Biden's mental acuity at age 82. Fox News contributor Joe Concha also noted Newsom's defense of Biden, calling him «one of the greatest presidents ever,» and suggested the governor should sit out the debate.
Judicial Watch President Tom Fitton criticized Newsom's motivation, saying the governor wants to remove Trump for «disclosing California could have tens of thousands of aliens illegally registered to vote and that China attacked 220 million voters.» Fitton's comment highlighted the partisan divide over election integrity claims.
Other Democrats rushed to support Newsom. Democratic influencer Harry Sisson wrote, «Boom. Gov. Gavin Newsom calls for the 25th Amendment to be invoked after Trump's unhinged speech tonight. He's right! Trump is mentally deranged and unfit to be president.» Representative Yassamin Ansari, D-Ariz., echoed the call, stating, «He lies with every breath he takes. How can anyone deny the urgency of the 25th Amendment at this point?»
This is not the first time Ansari has called for the 25th Amendment. Earlier this year, she joined Representative Jamie Raskin, D-Md., in proposing legislation to establish an independent group to review the cognitive state of any president, including past presidents, physicians, and other experts. Ansari said in April that Trump is «clearly experiencing severe cognitive decline» and has become a «national security threat.» Newsom's office did not immediately respond to a request for comment on whether he supports that bill.
Some conservatives raised concerns about the broader implications of invoking the 25th Amendment. California Assemblyman Joe Patterson questioned the logic, writing on social media, «Does anyone else think it's weird that as he talks about Trump rigging an election, he simultaneously asks for the president's cabinet to remove a duly elected president? Yeah, Gavin … that would pose no risk to our democracy at all. Get real!»
The controversy comes amid heightened political tensions ahead of the November midterms. Trump's speech, which focused on election integrity, has become a flashpoint for debates about cognitive fitness and the use of constitutional mechanisms to remove a sitting president. The 25th Amendment has rarely been invoked in U.S. history, and its application remains a subject of intense legal and political debate.
Newsom's call also reignited discussions about the double standards in how both parties assess presidential fitness. During Biden's term, many Democrats dismissed calls for the 25th Amendment as partisan attacks, while Republicans now argue that the same standard should apply to Trump. The episode underscores the deep polarization surrounding the issue.
As the 2026 midterms approach, the debate over election integrity and presidential capacity is likely to intensify. Newsom's remarks have positioned him at the center of a national conversation about the limits of executive power and the role of the 25th Amendment in safeguarding democracy.
