US Diplomats Urge "Support Invocation of 25th Amendment"... Unprecedented Defiance Against Sitting President

State Department Submits Opinion via 'Bandae Channel'
"Erosion of Trust in the U.S... President Must Be Held Accountable"

President Donald Trump of the United States
[Photo by AP]

[Asia Economy Reporter Jeong Hyunjin] U.S. diplomats have strongly criticized President Donald Trump's incitement related to the Capitol riot and urged Trump administration officials to invoke the 25th Amendment. It is considered unusual that diplomats drafted and submitted a cable protesting against a sitting president.

According to the Associated Press on the 10th (local time), U.S. diplomats drafted two cables demanding that President Trump be publicly held accountable for the violent breach of the U.S. Capitol by his supporters on the 6th, and that legal measures including the invocation of the 25th Amendment be considered. These documents were circulated among diplomats late last week and delivered to the State Department leadership. AP reported that it is unclear how many diplomats signed the cables.

The cables were sent through the State Department's dissent channel, which is typically used to submit opposing views on specific foreign policy decisions. The diplomats expressed concern that the incident could severely undermine America's credibility in promoting and defending democratic values abroad, stating, "If we fail to publicly hold the president accountable, it will further damage our ability to achieve our democracy and foreign policy goals overseas."

They also emphasized, "Just as we condemn foreign leaders who overturn voters' will and use violence and intimidation to interfere with peaceful democratic processes, President Trump's name must be mentioned in the State Department's public statement on this incident," adding, "It is crucial to communicate to the world that no one, not even the president, is above the law in our system."

Furthermore, they urged Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to support Vice President Mike Pence and other administration officials in any legal efforts to protect the nation, including the possible implementation of procedures outlined in Section 4 of the 25th Amendment. Section 4 of the 25th Amendment provides procedures for the vice president to assume presidential duties if the president is deemed unable to perform them.

AP assessed that this unprecedented protest against a sitting president comes amid long-standing frustrations over the Trump administration's disregard and diminishment of diplomats' roles and expertise. AP also added that the diplomats expressed anger in the cables over Secretary Pompeo condemning the violent acts but making no mention of President Trump's actions in relation to the Capitol violence.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.