TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The latest threat from President of the United States Donald Trump to eradicate the civilization of Iran on Tuesday, April 7, 2026, has drawn criticism domestically, even sparking impeachment calls.
As reported by NBC News, some Democratic senators criticized Trump's post as "completely unstable" and "insane."
"This is an extremely sick person," said Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., in a post on X. "Each Republican who refuses to join us in voting against this wanton war of choice owns every consequence of whatever the hell this is."
Other Democratic politicians, including Senator Ed Markey from Massachusetts and U.S. Representative Rashida Tlaib from Michigan, called for the president's impeachment or removal from office.
On the other hand, former U.S. Representatives and Republican politician Marjorie Taylor Greene, a former ally of Trump turned critic, also called for Trump's removal through the 25th Amendment.
"25TH AMENDMENT!!!" wrote the Georgia Republican on X. "Not a single bomb has dropped on America. We cannot kill an entire civilization. This is evil and madness."
The 25th Amendment outlines the presidential succession plan and the process by which the vice president and his Cabinet members can remove the president from office, potentially involving Congress if the president is "unable to discharge the powers and duties of his office."
War Crime
As the deadline for a ceasefire agreement in the war with Iran approached, Trump posted on his social media account, "A whole civilization will die tonight, never to be brought back again. I don’t want that to happen, but it probably will."
"However, now that we have Complete and Total Regime Change, where different, smarter, and less radicalized minds prevail, maybe something revolutionarily wonderful can happen, WHO KNOWS?" Trump wrote, referring to the killing of Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and other leaders, although it is not yet clear what the full impact of their deaths will be on the Iranian government.
The message marks his most extreme public rhetoric against Iran to date. The message emerged less than 12 hours before he said the United States would launch attacks on Iran's infrastructure over Tehran's continued disruption of shipments through the Strait of Hormuz.
Previously, international law experts referred to Trump's threat against civilian infrastructure in Iran, such as power plants, as a potential war crime if implemented.
Trump "openly threatens" to commit a war crime by vowing to target "the entire civilization" if Iran does not agree to a ceasefire agreement and reopen the Strait of Hormuz before his set deadline, said human rights expert Kenneth Roth.
"Trump is openly threatening collective punishment, targeting not the Iranian military but the Iranian people," said Roth, former executive director of Human Rights Watch, to NBC News.
He said that the collective punishment of civilians during armed conflict is a violation of the Fourth Geneva Convention.
"Attacking civilians is a war crime. So is making threats with the aim of terrorizing the civilian population," he said, explaining that threatening to commit a war crime could itself potentially be a war crime under international humanitarian law.
Read: Trump Warns Iran of "Civilization Destruction" if Ultimatum Is Ignored
Click here to get the latest news updates from Tempo on Google News
Iran Halts U.S. Communications After Trump Threatens Severe Action
21 menit lalu
Iran has closed all diplomatic and indirect communication channels with the U.S. following Trump's extreme threat.
Trump Warns Iran of "Civilization Destruction" if Ultimatum Is Ignored
3 jam lalu
President Trump warned that "entire civilization will perish" in Iran if the country does not heed his ultimatum to accept U.S. war demands.
OIl Prices Surge Ahead Trump's Strait of Hormuz Deal Deadline for Iran
3 jam lalu
Trump launched fresh threats against Iran as the deadline to reopen Strait of Hormuz looms.
Global Oil Prices Jump as Trump's Hormuz Deadline Approaches
7 jam lalu
Brent crude, the global benchmark, rose 1.4 percent to US$111.33 per barrel, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate climbed 2.8 percent to US$115.61.
Trump Warns US Could Destroy Iran In 'One Night'
12 jam lalu
Trump warned Tehran that the US military could completely destroy Iran within "one night," and that could happen as early as April 7.
What Is Bab el-Mandeb Strait? Why Iran Threatens to Block the Route?
1 hari lalu
As tensions continue to rise in the U.S.-Israel and Iran conflict, Tehran has signaled a potential blockade of the Bab el-Mandeb Strait.
Trump Warns of Possible Attacks on Iran's Power Plants, Bridges
1 hari lalu
US President Donald Trump warned of possible attacks on power plants and bridges in Iran on Tuesday tomorrow.
Trump Gives Iran 48 Hours to Open Strait of Hormuz or Face 'Hell'
2 hari lalu
US President Donald Trump issues an ultimatum to Iran to open the Strait of Hormuz within 48 hours.
Trump Urges Congress to Pass $1.5tn Defense Budget for Iran War
3 hari lalu
President Donald Trump on Friday urged members of Congress to approve a massive $1.5 trillion defense budget for 2027.
France, South Korea to Work Together on Reopening Hormuz
4 hari lalu
France and South Korea agree to help reopen the Strait of Hormuz and ease global economic uncertainty caused by the Iran war.
