Robert Reich: What I Just Heard About the Plot To Oust Trump

[FakeNoose]

Link: https://robertreich.substack.com/p/what-i-heard-about-the-plot-to-oust

I had dinner recently with a group of political operatives — sophisticated people who for years have been advising politicians and candidates. During dinner they shared with me their fantasy, which they gave 30 percent odds of becoming a reality within the next four months.

In my dinner companions’ fantasy, Trump’s failed war will elevate gas and food prices so high and long that much of the Republican base will begin turning against Trump. And Trump’s mental problems will become even more obvious.

Faced with all this, JD Vance promises Marco Rubio that he’ll appoint him vice president if Rubio joins Vance in seeking to oust Trump under the 25th Amendment.* Rubio agrees.

Vance and Rubio then approach House Speaker Mike Johnson and Senate Majority Leader John Thune for confidential discussions in which they broach the possibility. Johnson and Thune give Vance and Rubio their tacit support.

Vance and Rubio then get Pete Hegseth to sign on, promising Hegseth that he’ll keep his job. They get Todd Blanche to sign on by promising him he’ll be appointed permanent attorney general. Vance, Rubio, Hegseth, and Blanche are what Thune and Johnson need to make the 25th stick.

- more at link -

My friends, we live in interesting times. Please read the rest on Robert Reich's substack.

[exboyfil]

1. What is the chance that they have the votes to get the VP seated

F__k them after what they did on the Supreme Court.

[rampartd]

5. do not confirm a vice president

'recent assassination attempts make it necessary that we thoroughly vet the vice presidential appointments ..." schedule hearings with his pastor and his 5th grade math teacher. drag it out until it becomes moot.

and no money. not for the war. not for the ball room. nothing unless the secretary in charge responds to oversight.

[FakeNoose]

6. The 25th Amendment requires the majority of the Cabinet, plus the VP and Secretary of State

If they vote in favor of removal, then he's out. It's not the same thing as a regular Impeachment where there's a public trial in the Senate. The 25th Amendment has never actually happened before, and I don't believe this is something that would be heard or ruled on by SCOTUS. If the majority of the Cabinet agrees that the President is unable to fulfill his duties, then the Vice President takes over immediately, and he appoints another person as VP. It may be the Speaker of the House, or another person such as the Secretary of State.

[wcmagumba]

2. Wishful thinking, ain't gonna happen imo...

[Bobstandard]

22. Not enough cojones in the bunch

They might have the ambition but not the strength of character it would take to put the 25th into play.

[sop]

3. I could see it happening.

If Trump resists, it would get ugly; his ouster could irreparably fracture the Republican party.

[rampartd]

8. not ousting him fractures the nation and the world.

i don't care about their pedo ring party

[johnnyfins]

9. What would he do? What could he do?

Its not a court case. It is political. He would just NOT BE POTUS ANYMORE. There would be no coup. It would be legal and constitutional. He could try some dirty six tricks, but thats not likely.

[Irish_Dem]

15. Trump would refuse to leave and order the FBI and military to arrest Vance and Rubio for treason.

I am not joking here.
Trump would do it in a heartbeat.

[Irish_Dem]

16. Trump would refuse to leave and order the FBI and military to arrest Vance and Rubio for treason.

I am not joking here.
Trump would do it in a heartbeat.

[bucolic_frolic]

4. Living in some alt universe of self-importance

maybe he thinks he's some bizarre twist of late night comedian.

[Raven123]

10. They need Trump. Have to blame him for the country crashing and burning.

Rubio and Vance want to deny the roles in this mess. Until the GOP crumbles under the weight of its corruption they won’t do anything. If and when it does, anything can happen.

[mwmisses4289]

11. More likely is that he has a medical crisis that results in his death.

When it happens..

[Irish_Dem]

14. Vance's Plan B.

[Cheezoholic]

28. All those people that paid for pardons promised...

Will have to pay again

[enid602]

12. Sarcasm

Melania was recently seen walking down 5th Ave in a designer T-shirt that said ‘the fourth time is a charm.’

[Irish_Dem]

13. Very risky. 50% chance within 24 hours Vance and Rubio will fall out of windows.

[FakeNoose]

31. No I think they'd make sure they have the right/RIGHT people backing them

[Irish_Dem]

33. Who can stand up to ICE and the US military?

[Irish_Dem]

17. I think if they offered Trump a huge payout he might consider leaving?

[dem4decades]

18. Tell him he can live in the big, beautiful ballroom.

[Irish_Dem]

29. All the free cocaine and hookers he wants.

[dem4decades]

34. Can the nation afford to pay for all the hookers Trump wants?

[Irish_Dem]

37. We can if the hookers accidentally cause a heart attack in a certain client.

[Wiz Imp]

19. A significant piece that may get lost in the larger article:

...they gave 30 percent odds of becoming a reality within the next four months.

then a little more at the end:

I listened intently as my dinner companions spelled all this out. “So you really think there’s a 30 percent chance of this happening?” I asked them.

“Could be higher if the war continues,” one of them said, and the others agreed. Another of them thought the odds already higher.

“I can’t decide whether to be elated or worried,” I responded.

They laughed, but I was serious.

[Endlessmike56]

20. We've been let down too many times.

I’ll believe it when I see it.

[LetMyPeopleVote]

21. Deadline Legal Blog-How the 25th Amendment would work against Trump ....

If the 25th Amendment is invoked (this is not likely), trump remains POTUS and Vance would only be acting President. Vance would have no ability to designate a new VP. Further like in the impeachment process, the Republican-controlled Congress has a role to play.

How the 25th Amendment would work against Trump amid his Iran belligerence

https://www.europesays.com/iran/56326/

Politically diverse voices have raised the prospect of using the 25th Amendment to sideline President Donald Trump as he brings us to the brink…

— EUROPE SAYS (@europesays.bsky.social) 2026-04-07T20:32:05+00:00

https://www.ms.now/deadline-white-house/deadline-legal-blog/how-25th-amendment-would-work-trump-iran

Whatever the likelihood of such a move, you might wonder: How would that constitutional process play out?

Section 4 of the amendment gives the vice president and a majority of the Cabinet (or another body designated by Congress) the power to declare that the president “is unable to discharge the powers and duties of his office.” If such a declaration is made here, then Vice President JD Vance would, as the amendment says, “immediately assume the powers and duties of the office as Acting President.”

But that would not end the matter. Section 4, which has never been invoked, goes on to give the president the power to then tell Congress that he’s able to serve. In that case, he regains the office unless the vice president and a majority of the Cabinet (or another body designated by Congress) say he’s unable to serve. If that happens, then it’s up to Congress to decide, with the amendment requiring a two-thirds vote in both chambers, that the president is “unable to discharge the powers and duties of his office.” If Congress makes that determination, the vice president continues acting as president; otherwise, the president resumes serving.

So, although the initial action can come from the White House, Congress ultimately has a role to play, and Republicans control both chambers. ....

Therefore, like the 25th Amendment, impeachment leaves the fate of the country to a Republican party and congressional majority that has been subservient to this president.

trump will NOT be removed under the 25th Amendment. Vance and the cabinet will not remove trump and if they did there is no way that two-thirds of both the Senate and House would support this if trump challenges this removal.

There may some political benefit in trying to shame Vance and the cabinet into invoking the 25th Amendment but I believe that Vance and the assholes in trump's cabinet are immune to shame

[FakeNoose]

32. You're correct they must have Vance or it won't work

I believe they can do it with Vance, even if "Little Marco" doesn't go along with the scheme. Rubio isn't essential but Vance is.

[RustyWheels]

23. Does Trump Read Robert Reich ??

I certainly hope so... for both JD's and Little Marco's sake (and safety). LOL

[PuraVidaDreamin]

26. Such a delicious thought!

Eat the Rich!

[PBC_Democrat]

24. Boys and Girls, PLEASE Read Section 4 of the 25th Amendment!

It DOES state that the POTUS can be removed by a majority vote of the Cabinet.

It ALSO says that the POTUS can send a letter to the House and Senate stating "that no inability exists" and he immediately becomes POTUS again.

If the Cabinet disagrees it goes to the House and Senate where a 2/3s vote of each house is required to remove him.

It's easier, and more likely, that impeachment and removal would work.

https://constitutioncenter.org/the-constitution/amendments/amendment-xxv

[ultralite001]

25. Krasnov will be sitting at his faux Resolute Desk at Merde-A-Gogo...

pissed beyond belief that no one responds to him pounding his "Diet Coke" button...

screaming bloody murder when his presidential phone service is terminated...

+ no one dares tell him he has been removed from office...

That diaper is going to be really nasty when there are no sycophants around to change it...

[bluescribbler]

27. I will believe it,

When I see it. I find it hard to believe Shady Vance and Micro Rubio are capable of that sort of planning or persuasion.

[D00ver66]

30. Not going to happen

No a chance in MaraLoco.

[JustKay]

35. I'm just hoping he'll die.

[Metaphorical]

36. We are in extraconstitutional territory

The 25th Amendment was created primarily to deal with secession in the wake of a President resigning from office, with the 25-4 there primarily for situations where the President was physically unable to hold the office (for instance, due to cancer or a heart attack). In all honesty, Biden probably should have voluntarily resigned and let Kamala Harris become president under the 25th Amendment when he was diagnosed with cancer. As an amendment for dealing with the current situation, it's worthless - it's easier to impeach Trump and remove him from office.

Now, I think what the GOP is hoping is that, if they end up losing control over Congress (not a foregone conclusion but possible) that the Dems will impeach him and enough GOP will vote with them to put him away for good. Vance and Rubio become POTUS and VPOTUS, and the bodies get buried before they lose the presidency in 2028.

I also think that there's a certain amount of wishful thinking among the GOP regulars that Trump keels over on the golf course near Mara Logo. This would be the best case scenario for them - kind of like with Reagan, a dead Trump can always be turned into a MAGA martyr.