By
Seattle Times breaking news reporter
Calling the president’s conduct “an authoritarian takeover,” U.S. Rep Adam Smith, D-Bellevue, called for Donald Trump to be removed from office on Tuesday.
In a video, Smith cited the president’s recent remarks about taking over the Strait of Hormuz and federal immigration agents killing people on American streets. Smith also pointed to a speech Trump is reportedly making Thursday night focusing on election security, amid the president’s continued strategy of pushing baseless claims about voter fraud.
“This is an authoritarian takeover of our government,” Smith said in the video as he walked outside. “He is jeopardizing citizens’ lives. He is jeopardizing global stability. And it is all so unhinged it is almost impossible to watch.”
Smith, the ranking Democrat on the House Armed Services Committee, voted twice to impeach Trump, who was acquitted both times after Senate impeachment trials. In Tuesday’s video, he said he doesn’t “love impeachment as a strategy.”
“But we have to make the case that Donald Trump has completely lost it,” he said, saying at another point, “Republicans, either in Congress or the Cabinet — something has to be done.”
A spokesperson for Smith on Tuesday night didn’t immediately respond to questions, including whether Smith was planning on filing an impeachment resolution.
In July 2024, Smith called for Democratic President Joe Biden to end his reelection bid. Smith in that case was the first member of Washington’s congressional delegation — and one of the most senior Democrats in Congress at that point — to make that call.
Smith is up for reelection in November and faces a challenge by, among others, Kshama Sawant, a socialist and former Seattle City Council member.