Former President Donald Trump is once again facing calls for removal under the 25th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, as Democratic lawmakers warn his political behavior threatens both the nation’s democracy and its economy. Leading the charge is California Representative Maxine Waters, who delivered sharp criticism during a recent interview on MSNBC, raising alarms about what she described as Trump’s authoritarian tendencies.
Waters Accuses Trump of Power Grab Over U.S. Economy
Waters, a senior Democratic member of Congress known for her outspoken opposition to Trump, argued that his recent statements and reported plans indicate a desire to exert direct control over the Federal Reserve, the nation’s central banking system.
According to Waters, Trump wants the authority to:
Decide interest rates himself,
Install loyalists on the Federal Reserve Board,
And override independent economic decision-making.
“This is extraordinarily dangerous. This is the makings of a dictator who is trying to control the entire economy,” Waters said.
She warned that such a move could destabilize financial markets and undermine the independence of American institutions that were designed to act as checks on presidential power.
Invoking the 25th Amendment
Waters went beyond criticism, urging Trump’s own cabinet members to consider invoking the 25th Amendment — a constitutional mechanism that allows a president to be removed if deemed unable to perform the duties of the office.
While she acknowledged the slim chances of Trump’s allies turning against him, Waters said failing to act could leave the country exposed to economic manipulation and constitutional crisis.
“It is time to call for Article 25… to determine his unfitness, to determine that something is wrong with this president. I would suggest that we move very aggressively to talk about the danger to this country and to our democracy and not play around with this,” she said.
A Longtime Trump Critic
Waters has clashed with Trump throughout his political career. Early in his presidency, she accused him of steering the U.S. toward unnecessary conflict in the Middle East. After U.S. forces carried out strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities, Waters warned Trump was “out of control” and pushing America closer to another devastating war.
At the time, Trump celebrated the strikes, boasting that U.S. forces had successfully targeted what he called Iran’s “horribly destructive enterprise.”
“Our objective was the destruction of Iran’s nuclear enrichment capacity and a stop to the nuclear threat posed by the world’s number one state sponsor of terror. Tonight, I can report to the world that the strikes were a spectacular military success,” Trump declared in a national address.
For Waters, this speech was proof of Trump’s recklessness and disregard for long-term stability.
Trump and the Dictator Narrative
Waters is not alone in warning about Trump’s governing style. Political analysts have long debated whether Trump’s efforts to expand presidential authority — from influencing the Justice Department to challenging the independence of financial regulators — signal authoritarian ambitions.
Critics argue that Trump’s rhetoric, particularly his frequent claims that the system is “rigged” against him, undermines public trust in democratic institutions. Supporters, however, maintain that Trump is fighting entrenched elites and bureaucracy to restore power to ordinary Americans.
Waters’ latest push for the 25th Amendment highlights how polarized the debate has become. While her remarks energized Trump’s opponents, they also gave his loyalists fresh ammunition to argue that Democrats are determined to block him at any cost.
Looking Ahead
The likelihood of the 25th Amendment being invoked remains slim, as it would require Trump’s own cabinet to turn against him — a scenario considered politically improbable. Yet Waters insists that raising the alarm is necessary to prepare the public for what she views as the dangers of unchecked executive power.
“This is absolutely one of the most destructive things that this president could do,” Waters said. “We cannot linger and wait for the courts. We need to act.”
As the 2024 political season intensifies, her comments add another layer of drama to the ongoing national debate about Trump’s influence and the future of American democracy.