Having observed the presidential news conferences of the past few days, I am compelled to repeat my ongoing sentiment. First, I lay the groundwork.

President Trump is spouting lies and irrelevant information. Many in the White House press corps are encouraging or at least facilitating this by asking questions about details at a granular level. He plainly does not know the answers to such questions, so he makes up stuff. Often the stuff he makes up will lead to more harm. He also spends an inordinate amount of time at these events praising himself or his administration’s handling of the crisis. In the meantime, the professionals surrounding him are forced to waste valuable time in theatrics.

At a substantive level, he has no idea how to implement the Defense Production Act, or any other emergency procedure. It is not clear that his cabinet members do, but it is likely they are afraid to try while he holds office. This is keeping what few competent people exist at the upper levels of the bureaucracy from acting.

It is imperative that Vice President Pence and the cabinet act immediately to declare the president unable to discharge his powers and duties, with emphasis on the latter, under Section 4 of the Twenty-Fifth Amendment. Trump must be removed as a roadblock to bringing the full power of the federal government to the aid of states and our citizens. It is not clear whether the vice president is fully up to the task; what is clear is that he would do no worse and very likely would do better.

Mr. Vice President, do your duty now.