In a striking appearance on national television, Rep. Maxine Waters (D-Calif.) has ignited a fierce debate by demanding the invocation of the 25th Amendment to remove President Donald Trump from office.
According to Breitbart, during her Friday interview on MSNBC’s “The Weeknight,” Waters accused Trump of attempting to seize control of the Federal Reserve, labeling his actions as a grave threat to both the economy and democratic principles.
Waters, a prominent Democratic lawmaker, appeared on MSNBC’s “The Weeknight” program on Friday evening to voice her concerns. She focused her criticism on what she perceives as an assault by Trump on the independence of the Federal Reserve, a key financial institution. The Federal Reserve, often referred to as the Fed, operates independently from direct presidential control to manage monetary policy, including setting interest rates.
Waters argued that Trump is seeking to undermine this autonomy by influencing the Fed’s decisions. She claimed the president wants to dictate interest rates, a responsibility traditionally held by the Fed’s governing board. Furthermore, Waters alleged that Trump desires to place loyalists on the board who will adhere to his instructions.
“This is flagrant,” Waters declared during the interview, emphasizing her alarm. “This is something that the president has decided to do be damned the Constitution of the United States, where an independent agency is under attack,” she added. “He wants to control the Fed. He wants to be able to determine interest rates. He wants to be able to have the people on the governing board that will do exactly as they are told,” Waters continued.
“This is extraordinarily dangerous,” she stated, highlighting the severity of the situation. “This is the makings of a dictator who is trying to control the entire economy,” Waters warned. She further cautioned that such actions could have catastrophic consequences, stating, “This stands to basically upend the entire economy.”
Beyond her critique of Trump’s economic moves, Waters called for immediate and decisive steps to address what she sees as a crisis. She urged the use of the 25th Amendment, a constitutional mechanism that allows the cabinet to declare a president unfit to serve and transfer power to the vice president. Waters believes Trump’s behavior demonstrates a clear unfitness for the role of president, necessitating this drastic measure.
However, Waters expressed skepticism about the likelihood of her recommendation being followed. She described Trump’s cabinet as a group of loyal supporters unlikely to oppose him, calling them “a bunch of his sycophants.” Despite this, she insisted that the gravity of the situation demands attention and action from all quarters. “As far as I’m concerned, we have to move very aggressively,” Waters asserted during the interview. “It is not about, you know, lingering and trying to think that maybe the courts will help us,” she explained, dismissing slower legal avenues. She stressed the urgency of confronting the issue head-on rather than waiting for judicial intervention.
“I want, even though I know it may not happen, the cabinet that he’s appointed... to do what I would recommend,” Waters said. “It is time to call for Article 25 of the Constitution of the United States of America to determine his unfitness, to determine that something’s wrong with this president,” she urged. Her invocation of Article 25, commonly known as the 25th Amendment, underscores her belief in the severity of Trump’s actions.
Waters also framed her concerns within a larger context of national security and democratic integrity. “I would suggest that we move very aggressively to talk about the danger to this country and to our democracy,” she said. She emphasized that the issue transcends mere policy disagreement, pointing to a fundamental risk to the nation’s foundational principles.
The lawmaker’s comments reflect a deep worry about the potential ramifications of unchecked presidential influence over independent bodies like the Fed. Waters insisted that the public and officials alike must not “play around with this” critical matter. Her passionate plea aims to rally support for addressing what she sees as an urgent threat posed by Trump’s intentions.
The Federal Reserve’s independence is a cornerstone of U.S. economic policy, designed to insulate monetary decisions from political pressures. Historically, this separation ensures that interest rates and other financial mechanisms are determined based on economic data rather than partisan agendas. Waters’ alarm centers on the potential erosion of this principle under Trump’s alleged push for control.
Waters’ call for the 25th Amendment is a rare and bold move, as the amendment has never been used to remove a president against their will. Her statements are likely to fuel ongoing debates about Trump’s leadership style and the boundaries of executive power. This development adds another layer of tension to an already polarized political landscape in Washington.
As Waters herself acknowledged, the likelihood of the cabinet acting on her suggestion remains slim given their allegiance to Trump. Nevertheless, her remarks may resonate with critics of the president and amplify calls for accountability. The discussion surrounding the 25th Amendment and Trump’s influence over the Fed is poised to continue as a contentious issue.