Donald Trump and his inner circle are once again at the center of controversy after leaked messages from a private Signal group raised significant concerns about his leadership.
But could there be other threats to his presidency?
Less than 100 days into his return to the White House, questions are already being raised about the stability of Trump’s administration.
Veteran political analyst Adam Boulton suggests that Trump’s greatest challenge may not come from Democratic opposition but from within his own ranks—specifically, his Vice President, JD Vance.
Boulton argues that Trump’s unpredictable leadership style could ultimately weaken his standing. Writing in The i, he stated, “Should Trump become more of an unpredictable liability—whether by tanking the economy with tariffs or pushing the U.S. into an armed confrontation with an ally—Republicans, including cabinet members, may decide that his comparatively squeaky-clean, family-oriented VP is a better bet to keep them in power.”
Challenges Facing Trump’s Presidency
Since his return to office, Trump has issued a flurry of executive orders, some of which have unsettled even his staunchest supporters.
His administration has taken an aggressive stance on trade, imposing tariffs on key allies like Canada and Mexico. Controversial foreign policy moves—including renaming the Gulf of Mexico, temporarily halting aid to Ukraine, and deporting Venezuelans to El Salvador—have also drawn criticism. His confrontational approach toward Greenland has sparked fears that he intends to assert control over the island.
These unpredictable decisions, combined with Trump’s history of political and personal controversies, have reportedly caused unrest within his inner circle. As tensions mount, some within the administration may view JD Vance as a more stable alternative.
JD Vance’s Complicated History with Trump
Vance, a former venture capitalist and author of Hillbilly Elegy, was once a vocal Trump critic, even likening him to “America’s Hitler.”
Over time, however, Vance shifted his stance and has since positioned himself as one of Trump’s most loyal allies.
Yet, his credibility took a hit following the Signal group scandal and the leaked messages sent to journalist Jeffrey Goldberg. In the conversations, Vance appeared to subtly criticize Trump, raising eyebrows among political observers.
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According to Goldberg—The Atlantic’s editor-in-chief, who was inadvertently included in the chat—Vance questioned whether Trump recognized the contradictions in his policies. While Trump advocated for a unilateral U.S. attack on the Houthis to protect international shipping lanes, he simultaneously insisted that European nations shoulder more of the burden for similar efforts.
“I am not sure the president is aware how inconsistent this is with his message on Europe right now,” Vance reportedly wrote in the chat.
As Vice President, JD Vance holds one of the most powerful positions in the country—and if circumstances demand it, he could be in line to take over the presidency. While some conservatives see him as a pragmatic choice should Trump falter, others question his ideological consistency.
A Nation on Edge
These discussions about Trump’s stability come at a time when U.S. democracy is under intense scrutiny. Political scientist Staffan Lindberg of V-Dem has warned, “The USA now seems to be heading towards a transition away from democracy under President Trump. In my view, the reverberations of this are and will be enormous across the world.”
Tara Setmayer, a former Republican communications director, echoed similar concerns in an interview with The Guardian, stating, “We are approaching Defcon 1 for our democracy, and a lot of people in the media and opposition leadership don’t seem to be communicating that to the American people. That is the biggest danger of the moment we’re in now: the normalization of it.”
Some of Trump’s actions have only intensified these concerns. In a widely reported incident, a French scientist was allegedly denied entry to the U.S. after border officials discovered text messages on his phone that were critical of the Trump administration.
France’s Minister of Higher Education and Research condemned the incident, stating that the researcher was denied entry “because the researcher’s phone contained exchanges with colleagues and friends in which he expressed a personal opinion on the Trump administration’s research policy.”
Could Trump Be Removed from Office?
If internal tensions continue to escalate, there are several ways Trump could be removed from power. The most well-known method is impeachment, a process he survived twice during his first term.
Another possibility is the invocation of the 25th Amendment. Under this scenario, Vice President Vance and a majority of the cabinet could declare Trump “unable to discharge the powers and duties of his office.”
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Trump would have the right to challenge this decision, leading to congressional intervention. A two-thirds vote in both the House and Senate would be required to permanently remove him from office.
A third potential scenario is political pressure forcing Trump’s resignation, similar to President Richard Nixon’s departure during the Watergate scandal. While this outcome seems unlikely, Trump’s unpredictable nature and rising tensions within his administration could push Republicans to explore alternative leadership options.
Would a Vance Presidency Be Any Different?
Even if JD Vance were to assume the presidency, there’s no guarantee he would lead the country in a dramatically different direction. Many experts argue that he has aligned himself so closely with Trump that his presidency might merely be an extension of the current administration.
Regardless of what happens in the coming months, one thing is clear: the Trump White House remains as unpredictable as ever, and the possibility of internal power struggles is very real. As the administration faces increasing scrutiny, all eyes will be on JD Vance—whether as Trump’s loyal second-in-command or as a potential successor.
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