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Legal experts largely agree that invoking the 25th Amendment in this context would face serious obstacles. Mark Graber, a constitutional law professor at the University of Maryland, explained that the amendment was designed for clear cases of medical or physical incapacity, such as unconsciousness or severe cognitive impairment. While it is theoretically possible to apply it to mental incapacity, Graber argues that Trump’s behavior—however controversial—does not meet the legal threshold envisioned by the framers.
Graber and others emphasize a crucial distinction: political unsuitability is not the same as constitutional incapacity. A president may be reckless, offensive, or even dangerous in the eyes of critics, yet still legally capable of performing the duties of the office. That is why many scholars argue that impeachment remains the proper constitutional mechanism for addressing alleged misconduct or abuse of power, even though it carries its own political hurdles.
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