But it is “highly unlikely” that Pence would follow the path at this stage, the source said, as the attempt is expected to be unsuccessful. Pence himself did not discuss the 25th amendment with any cabinet officials, an administration official told CNN.
However, two cabinet secretaries called on cabinet members to take their “temperatures” to demand a cabinet meeting with President Donald Trump to confront him about his behavior, three government officials said.
The two cabinet secretaries discussed the possibility of demanding that the president deliver a public speech committing himself to a peaceful transfer of power, which Trump did in a pre-recorded video Thursday night.
The meeting would hang, would be the possibility that a majority of the Cabinet could call for the 25th Amendment and strip Trump of his power as president.
Chiefs of staff of federal departments also called each other to discuss the possibility.
Some secretaries are reluctant to agree to a meeting because of the risk that an attempt to call the 25th Amendment will run, or that they will provoke Trump’s anger.
Some officials were also concerned about the optics of holding a cabinet meeting amid national discussions on the 25th Amendment. “Why take the risk?” said one senior official.
On Thursday night, Trump admitted in his pre-recorded video that he would not serve a second term. It is not yet known if that was enough to allay cabinet concerns and to take the discussions off the table.
A White House adviser in talks with senior officials said Trump only recorded the video because his presidency is currently threatened by imminent resignations and possible accusations.
“I think the video was only done because almost all of its senior staff were about to resign and accusations are imminent,” the adviser said.
“The message and tone had to be conveyed on election night … not after people died,” the adviser added.