Some Americans were so upset by President Trump’s latest controversial tweet that a hashtag lobbying for his removal from office was trending on Twitter on Sunday night.
The term “#25thAmendmentNow” began trending several hours after Trump tweeted a mock video that shows him pummeling a man — his face obscured by the CNN logo — outside a wrestling ring, along with the message: ‘‘#FraudNewsCNN #FNN.’’
Some media organizations were alarmed by the outright violence toward journalists portrayed in the video, and CNN accused Trump of engaging in ‘‘juvenile behavior far below the dignity of his office.’’
However, a White House aide insisted the tweet should not send a chill across the media landscape.
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‘‘I think that no one would perceive that as a threat,’’ homeland security adviser Tom Bossert said. ‘‘I hope they don’t. But I do think that he’s beaten up in a way on cable platforms that he has a right to respond to.’’
Still, many condemned Trump’s video online, sparking the #25thAmendmentNow hashtag. The 25th Amendment is a procedure to remove presidents who haven’t committed crimes but are considered unfit to be in office. Cabinet members would first have to certify that the president is “unable to discharge the powers and duties of his office,” and then two-thirds of Congress would have to concur for the procedure to take place. The vice president would then become president under the amendment.
RT if you support invoking the #25thAmendmentNOW
— William LeGate (@williamlegate) July 2, 2017
.@GOP @SenateGOP @HouseGOP Scolding @realDonaldTrump with empty words is no longer acceptable. Back your words with action#25thAmendmentNow
— Beau Willimon (@BeauWillimon) July 2, 2017
Seriously, did anyone really doubt that this was coming???? #25thAmendmentNow
— Rob Szczerba (@RJSzczerba) July 2, 2017
There's nothing less patriotic or Christian than still supporting this president. #25thAmendmentNow
— andy lassner (@andylassner) July 2, 2017
✓ Racism
— The Daily Edge (@TheDailyEdge) July 2, 2017
✓ Sexism
✓ Homophobia
✓ Xenophobia
✓ Tax, consumer & charity fraud
✓ Sexual abuse
✓ Blackmail
✓ Inciting violence#25thAmendmentNow
trump is a disgrace. He is unfit. He is dangerous. He is uncouth. He is unprofessional. He is unhinged. We need the #25thAmendmentNow.
— Ricky Davila (@TheRickyDavila) July 2, 2017
You can't sit with us! #25thAmendmentNow pic.twitter.com/omYDVtcTZK
— Marie Connor (@thistallawkgirl) July 2, 2017
I don't care if some of you think that "Pence could be worse." I don't disagree but Trump must be removed from office. #25thAmendmentNow
— Abraham Gutman (@abgutman) July 2, 2017
However, some were also using the hashtag to defend the president.
How can liberals claim they're resisting Trump, when they let 1 tweet control their emotions & thoughts for an entire day?#25thAmendmentNow
— Democrats for Trump (@YoungDems4Trump) July 2, 2017
#25thAmendmentNOW another campaign funding joke. 1000 + democrats were rebuked by the voters at the local, state and federal level since BHO
— RockPrincess (@Rockprincess818) July 2, 2017
Notice: The democrats are now talking about the 25th Amendment because everyone knows about the fake news Russia stories.#25thAmendmentNow
— #ThePersistence (@ScottPresler) July 2, 2017
The hashtag also started trending days after US Representative Jamie Raskin, a Maryland Democrat, promoted a bill he recently introduced to create a constitutional body to examine Trump’s fitness to be president. The bill has more than 20 sponsors — including James McGovern of Massachusetts, according to Congress.gov.
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“In case of emergency, break glass. We need an Oversight Commission on Presidential Capacity in order to fulfill the meaning of the 25th [Amendment],” Raskin tweeted Friday.
.@POTUS' incapacity must be seriously addressed. That's why I introduced the Oversight Commission on Presidential Capacity Act. #OCPCAct pic.twitter.com/1CvYfTUhYC
— Rep. Jamie Raskin (@RepRaskin) June 30, 2017
Evan Horowitz of the Globe staff contributed to this report. Material from the Associated Press was used in this report.