Health secretary declines to say if he’s discussed 25th Amendment to remove Trump

Secretary of Health and Human Services Alex Azar declined to say early Tuesday if he has discussed using the 25th Amendment to remove President Trump from office after violent rioting at the U.S. Capitol by the president’s supporters.

Azar during an appearance on ABC’s “Good Morning America” did not defend Trump, who spoke to supporters before they stormed the Capitol as lawmakers met to certify President-elect Joe Biden’s victory, but did not say he thinks the president is unfit for office.

“The rhetoric last week was unacceptable,” Azar said when asked if the president is able to “discharge the duties of his office,” the standard for removal under the 25th Amendment.

“I’m not going to get into or discuss the 25th Amendment here,” he added.

Azar also declined to say if he had discussed the 25th Amendment with other Cabinet members or Vice President Pence. A majority of the Cabinet and the vice president is needed to remove the president. 

“It would not be appropriate for me to discuss, and I never have, my conversations with colleagues or with the president and vice president,” he said.

.@GStephanopoulos: Do you believe what the president did last week showed that he is able to discharge the duties of his office or not?
@SecAzar: The rhetoric last week was unacceptable. I’m not going to get into or discuss the 25th Amendment here. https://t.co/b6gXmsVgRW pic.twitter.com/UVYEQFPWYL

— Good Morning America (@GMA) January 12, 2021

Azar said he is not going to resign and will serve the remaining eight days overseeing the coronavirus response.

“I’m committed, I’ve wrestled with this, I’m committed to see this through in my role as health secretary during a pandemic to ensure that vaccines and therapeutics get out to the American people and to ensure a smooth handoff to President-elect Biden’s team,” he said.

The House is preparing to vote to impeach Trump on Wednesday, given that it does not appear that the 25th Amendment will be invoked before then.