The idea is far-fetched, but some people in Washington have gone on record asking for the removal of the President of the United States from office.
With the anger over Wednesday's violent siege at the U.S. Capitol still bubbling, congressional leaders have called on Vice-President Mike Pence to invoke the 25th Amendment and force President Donald Trump from office, even though his term ends on January 20 when Joe Biden is sworn in as the new president.
Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer of New York, and Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, of California, have each asked Pence to invoke the 25th Amendment, which lays out the succession plan should a president die, resign, become incapacitated, or be removed from office.
"By inciting sedition as he did yesterday, he must be removed from office," Pelosi said as quoted by Fox News. "While it's only 13 days left, any day can be a horror show for America. The president of the United States incited an insurrection against America."
Trump had called on his supporters to march on the Capitol Wednesday, where a joint session of Congress was being held to officially count and certify the Electoral College vote that made Biden the president-elect. The vote is usually ceremonial, but many Republicans in Congress had vowed to object to the results.
A large crowd descended on the Capitol in the afternoon, eventually gaining entry, roaming the halls, ransacking offices, and smashing windows. Lawmakers were ordered out of the House chamber and Pence was escorted out.
One protestor was photographed with his feet on Pelosi's office desk. Another was seen sitting in Pence's seat in the Senate chamber.
Shots were fired outside the Senate chamber, hitting a woman who later died. Three other people died in and around the Capitol due to medical issues.
Biden immediately condemned the storming of the Capitol, and Trump sent a video message urging protestors to go home, while still making unsubstantiated charges of election fraud.
The rebuke against Trump was not limited to Democrats. Republican Congressman Adam Kinzinger of Illinois also called for Trump's removal. Utah Senator Mitt Romney called Trump "selfish" and also labelled the siege as an insurrection.
CNN reported Thursday evening that some Cabinet members had discussed invoking the 25th Amendment, though there was no word on whether Pence would entertain such a notion. Also, US Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao resigned her position in response to the siege.
At the White House, Trump has now promised there will be an orderly transfer of power on January 20, his first acknowledgment of defeat in the election. Congress formally certified Biden's victory in the early morning hours of Thursday.
Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany told reporters Thursday that the administration has condemned the incident and lamented the loss of life.
"It is unacceptable and those who broke the law should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law," said McEnany, adding that the entire administration was now committed to a peaceful transfer of power.