36 US doctors urge Congress to remove Trump from office

September 21, 2026 at 12:50 PM2 min

This digest was compiled by AI from multiple sources — links to the originals are below.

A group of 36 American physicians and mental health specialists filed a formal statement in the Congressional Record urging Congress to remove President Donald Trump from office over concerns about his fitness. The document, titled Medical Concerns About President Donald J. Trump and His Fitness for Office, was introduced by Senators Sheldon Whitehouse and Jack Reed. The White House rejected the assessment, citing Trump's perfect scores on cognitive tests in 2018 and 2025.

Key Facts

The statement was entered into the Congressional Record by Senators Sheldon Whitehouse and Jack Reed.
The signatories include neurologists, forensic and clinical psychiatrists, and other physicians and mental health specialists.
The doctors said they observed signs of cognitive decline, impaired impulse control, and impaired decision-making in Trump's public behavior.
The White House cited Trump's scores of 30 out of 30 on the Montreal Cognitive Assessment in 2018 and 2025.
The 25th Amendment requires the vice president and a majority of the cabinet to act against the president's will, with Congress making the final decision in a dispute.

The Medical Statement

The document, titled Medical Concerns About President Donald J. Trump and His Fitness for Office, was entered into the Congressional Record by Senators Sheldon Whitehouse and Jack Reed. The 36 signatories include neurologists, forensic and clinical psychiatrists, and other physicians and mental health specialists. They stated that they observed signs of cognitive decline, impaired impulse control, and impaired decision-making in Trump's public behavior. The doctors said that if they were evaluating Trump under the 25th Amendment, they would conclude he is unable to discharge the powers and duties of the presidency. The statement includes a disclaimer that none of the signatories personally examined Trump, he is not their patient, and they are not making a formal medical diagnosis.

White House Response

White House spokesman Davis Ingle called remote medical assessments politically motivated speculation. The administration pointed to Trump's scores of 30 out of 30 on the Montreal Cognitive Assessment in 2018 and 2025. The Montreal Cognitive Assessment is a screening test used to detect cognitive impairment.

25th Amendment Mechanism

The 25th Amendment to the US Constitution provides a mechanism for the temporary transfer of presidential powers if the president is unable to discharge the duties of the office. To invoke the amendment against the president's will, the vice president and a majority of the cabinet must act, and Congress makes the final decision in the event of a dispute.