Rep.Adam Smith (D-Wash.), who leads the House Armed Services Committee, urged President Trump to leave office on Tuesday.He based his call on three main reasons: Trump’s proposal to charge a 20% fee on ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz, the recent death of a second immigrant at the hands of ICE agents within a week, and an upcoming speech on election interference that Smith claimed showed a move toward authoritarian control.
In a video posted on X, Smith said, “It’s time for Donald Trump to be removed from office.” He added that he didn’t say this lightly but believed something needed to be done by Republicans in Congress or the Cabinet.
“He is putting people’s lives at risk and threatening global stability.It’s hard to watch,” he said.“We need to show that Trump has lost his grip.Not only is he pushing for an authoritarian takeover, but we have to question if he’s still sane.”
Smith’s call came the day after Trump announced on Truth Social that the U.S.
would act as the “guardian” of the Strait of Hormuz and charge a 20% fee on all cargo moving through the waterway.However, Trump quickly backed off after Gulf leaders expressed concerns about paying the fee, preferring to do business with the U.S.instead.Smith called the plan “completely impossible” and “illegal,” explaining that international law allows free passage through such waterways.The U.S.has always supported this principle, and the State Department has long held the same position.The U.S.position, as stated in a June White House agreement, was that the Strait must remain open without any costs or restrictions.
Iran’s foreign minister welcomed the reversal, saying the U.S.
was right to charge for secure passage, though 20% was too high.Trump’s policies on the Strait were in line with the U.S.stance, but his sudden change of heart raised questions.
Smith also pointed to the recent death of Joan Sebastian Guerrero, a 26-year-old Colombian man, who was shot by ICE agents in Maine.
He said this was the second fatal shooting by ICE in less than a week.The victim was not the target of the warrant agents were trying to enforce.The DHS said the officer fired because they were worried for public safety as Guerrero tried to escape.Republican Senator Susan Collins called for a full, unbiased investigation, and the FBI is looking into the case.Maine’s governor also expressed concern that this situation must end.This incident, along with the previous shooting in Houston, has led to growing public pressure on the administration’s immigration policies during Trump’s second term.
Smith said he isn’t a big fan of impeachment as a strategy, having voted to impeach Trump twice without success.
Instead, he urged Republicans to use the 25th Amendment through the Cabinet or apply pressure from Congress to stop what he called dangerous and irrational actions by the president.“Republicans, speak up.Stop this madness.Someone needs to protect our country and we can’t do that until Donald Trump is out of office,” he said.
Smith’s call for removal shows a shift from his previous actions, which focused on challenging Trump through the War Powers Resolution and demanding oversight into the Iran war.
Earlier this year, Smith was among the first to introduce a War Powers Resolution asking for the withdrawal of U.S.forces from Iran, citing the lack of congressional approval for Operation Epic Fury.He has also sent letters to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth asking for explanations regarding civilian casualties and the legal reasons for targeting civilian infrastructure.
Removing a president requires either two-thirds of the Senate voting to convict after a House impeachment or invoking the 25th Amendment with the vice president and a majority of Cabinet members — both of which would require significant Republican support.
So far, no Republican in Congress or Cabinet has publicly called for Trump’s removal.Trump teased on Truth Social that he would speak about election interference on Thursday night, which Smith described as further evidence of his authoritarian direction.
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