In a stunning editorial published Wednesday night, The Washington Post editorial board called for Donald Trump to be removed as president.
The board wrote, “President Trump’s refusal to accept his election defeat and his relentless incitement of his supporters led Wednesday to the unthinkable: an assault on the U.S. Capitol by a violent mob that overwhelmed police and drove Congress from its chambers as it was debating the counting of electoral votes. Responsibility for this act of sedition lies squarely with the president, who has shown that his continued tenure in office poses a grave threat to U.S. democracy. He should be removed.”
The editorial board also criticized what it called Trump’s “two mild tweets” to tell the mob to disperse peacefully.
The editorial board wrote, “The president is unfit to remain in office for the next 14 days.” It asked Vice President Mike Pence to gather the cabinet and invoke the 25th Amendment, and declare that Trump is “unable to discharge the powers and duties of his office.” Pence, the board writes, should be president until Joe Biden is inaugurated on Jan. 20.
“Failing that,” the board writes, “senior Republicans must restrain the president.”
The editorial closes by saying, “Mr. Biden is right. Rules, norms, laws, even the Constitution itself are worth something only if people believe in them. Americans put on their seat belts, follow traffic laws, pay taxes and vote because of faith in a system — and that faith makes it work. The highest voice in the land incited people to break that faith, not just in tweets, but by inciting them to action. Mr. Trump is a menace, and as long as he remains in the White House, the country will be in danger.”
