As Donald Trump’s cognitive decline worsens, critics warn of a JD Vance presidency

In September 2023, Nikki Haley made a bold statement: “A vote for Joe Biden is a vote for Kamala Harris.” With the 2024 election looming, this idea was repeatedly echoed by supporters of Donald Trump. They argued that given Biden’s shaky mental state, any vote for him essentially meant a vote for his Vice President, Kamala Harris. Yet, as Trump and his supporters face their own accusations of being “too old to be president,” they seem to ignore the irony of the situation.

Despite Trump showing signs of what some describe as dementia—like getting confused during speeches and avoiding public appearances—his followers still view him as unbeatable. This contradiction has been a frequent point of criticism from Democrats ever since Biden’s campaign ended. Some suggest that these accusations from the Right might be a case of “the pot calling the kettle black.” If Trump were to regain the presidency, there’s a concern that his potential cognitive decline could lead to a situation where Republicans invoke the 25th Amendment to replace him with someone like JD Vance.

Now, the 25th Amendment might sound like something out of a political thriller, but it’s very real and has significant implications. It allows the government to swiftly address a crisis by facilitating the Vice President’s ascent to the presidency if the current president is unable to fulfill their duties. According to the amendment, if a president resigns, dies, or is removed, the Vice President steps in as President.

While that may not seem alarming at first, the amendment includes a clause that raises eyebrows. It permits a president to voluntarily relinquish their role if they feel unfit, allowing the Vice President to take over without much fuss. Once in charge, the new president can appoint a Vice President, but this pick must be approved by a majority in both the House and the Senate—both of which have been under Republican control since 2022.

Essentially, the 25th Amendment ensures a quick exit for a president deemed unfit, or even allows the president to resign entirely. This scenario raises fears that Trump could win the election, clear his name of the 34 criminal charges against him, and then hand over the presidency to Vance.

The Lincoln Project, a political action committee, was among the first to spotlight this concern. They released an ad in early October targeting Trump, suggesting that Republicans are looking for a younger, more competent leader to execute “Project 2025” without the baggage associated with Trump.

These unverified claims quickly gained traction online, especially with talk about Project 2025—the unofficial right-wing agenda backed by the Heritage Foundation. Although Trump denies any connection to this “master plan,” the nearly 1,000-page document shows many of the same faces from his administration. Vance has been more open about his positions, refusing to accept the 2020 election results, echoing the document’s extreme views on abortion and women’s rights, and even pushing for the dismantling of the Department of Education while claiming that higher education promotes “deceit and lies.”

To make matters worse, Vance has garnered support from wealthy far-right figures like Peter Thiel and Elon Musk, which doesn’t reassure anyone. Vance was relatively unknown before these billionaire endorsements catapulted him into the spotlight. He’s currently more disliked than Sarah Palin ever was, and without Trump, he wouldn’t even be close to the political stage. As we head toward November, it’s crucial to ensure that Vance doesn’t get anywhere near the presidency.