Former White House press secretary Jen Psaki is pushing back on growing calls within her own party to invoke the 25th Amendment against President Donald Trump, as some Democrats continue raising concerns about his mental fitness.
Psaki, now an MSNBC host, argued that focusing on removing Trump through the constitutional provision is both unrealistic and politically counterproductive.
Speaking on Stephen A. Smith’s show Straight Shooter, Psaki acknowledged frustration on the left but questioned the value of repeatedly invoking the 25th Amendment.
“I think there are times — and I can’t speak for everybody on the left, I don’t agree with everything everybody says on the left either — you know, sometimes it’s just not constructive,” Psaki said. “I mean, you’ve talked about the 25th Amendment. I have no issue with people saying they’re for invoking the 25th Amendment, but it’s not going to happen. So it’s like, why are we spending so much time, you know?”
Her comments come as some Democratic lawmakers continue to escalate concerns about Trump’s behavior, including Rep. Mark Takano (D-Calif.), who directly confronted Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. during a House hearing on Friday.
During the House Education and Workforce Committee session on the HHS budget, Takano displayed large posters of Trump’s Truth Social posts, including statements threatening to destroy the “whole civilization” of Iran, attacks on Pope Leo XIV, and an AI-generated image depicting Trump as Jesus Christ.
“Millions of Americans are questioning this president’s mental fitness, his emotional stability, and whether he can carry out the duties of his office. Do you share their concerns about his mental health?” Takano asked Kennedy.
After Kennedy did not immediately respond, Takano pressed further.
“We need a commander in chief that we know has full command of his mental faculties and is emotionally stable,” he said. “Mr. Secretary, given everything that I’ve shown you today, will you insist that President Trump undergo an assessment of his mental fitness and his emotional stability?”
“Absolutely not,” Kennedy replied.
Takano then asked whether Kennedy would support invoking the 25th Amendment if Trump were deemed unfit. Kennedy again rejected the premise, adding that “there hasn’t been a president who is more sane.”
Takano accused him of placing loyalty to Trump above the Constitution, prompting Kennedy to fire back, “Well, you need the fundraising video.”
Committee Chair Rep. Tim Walberg (R-Mich.) also weighed in, noting the partisan nature of such calls.
“I would hesitate to say something about the 25th Amendment with the last president. There was no concern there from the other side, but I won’t say that,” Walberg said.
Calls to remove Trump through the 25th Amendment have come from more than 50 Democratic lawmakers, along with other critics, some citing his rhetoric on Iran as evidence he is unfit for office.
But Psaki warned that the party risks undermining itself by leaning too heavily on such arguments and by narrowing its political appeal.
“What is also true is that in order to win, you have to invite more people to the party,” she said. “So if you want to win, you have to accept sometimes that there may be people who are part of your party, or you’re going to welcome into the conversation, who you don’t agree with on 100% of issues. And I think sometimes there can be a little litmus-testy feeling about who’s allowed to be a Democrat or who can consider themselves progressive.”
She also cautioned against a reflexive outrage-driven response to Trump.
“And part of that goes hand in hand with feeling like you have to scream at the top of your lungs about everything that comes out of the Trump administration,” Psaki said. “And I’m outraged by a lot of it. But I don’t think screaming about every single thing is the most constructive thing.”
