WASHINGTON — Massachusetts Sen. Edward Markey released a formal statement on Tuesday demanding Congress remove President Donald Trump from office, calling him "unstable" and "a clear and present danger" to the world after Trump posted on Truth Social that "a whole civilization will die tonight, never to be brought back again" in reference to Iran.

Markey called for either articles of impeachment or invocation of the 25th Amendment — the second time this year he has called for Trump's removal.

"We have a warmonger in the White House," Markey wrote. "He has threatened war crimes on an apocalyptic scale and appears eager to commit them, including through the possible use of nuclear weapons. We cannot fund this illegal war. The Congress must act now."

Just after 8 a.m., Trump posted on Truth Social: "A whole civilization will die tonight, never to be brought back again." The post came less than 12 hours before his self-imposed deadline of 8 p.m. ET for Iran to agree to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, a critical shipping lane through which roughly one-fifth of the world's oil and natural gas passes.

Trump has threatened to destroy every bridge and power plant in Iran if the deadline passes without a deal. "Every bridge in Iran will be decimated by 12 o'clock tomorrow night, where every power plant in Iran will be out of business," Trump said.

When asked what the president meant by "whole civilization" and whether the U.S. would target civilian areas, White House spokesperson Anna Kelly said: "Refer to the TRUTH."

Trump has already extended his Iran deadline multiple times. He also referenced the deaths of Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, and other leaders as constituting "complete and total regime change."

In his statement, the Massachusetts senator called Trump "a clear and present danger, not just to the American people but to the world" and said a war powers resolution "will not be enough."

"The House and Senate must return to session," Markey wrote. "The House must pass articles of impeachment, and then the Senate must vote to convict and remove the President. Or, the cabinet and Vice President, with congressional concurrence, must invoke the 25th Amendment and remove Trump."

Markey warned that Trump's threats "cannot be dismissed as mere rhetoric," calling the moment "as grave a moment as the world has faced in the nuclear era."

This is Markey's second call for removal this year. In January, he called for invoking the 25th Amendment over Trump's push to take Greenland.

Markey isn't alone. More than 50 House Democrats have called for Trump's removal through impeachment or the 25th Amendment. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries called Trump "completely unhinged" and demanded Congress reconvene to vote on ending the war. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer issued a joint statement warning against the threat. Sen. Elissa Slotkin warned that targeting civilians would violate the Geneva Conventions.

None of it is likely to go anywhere. Trump has the support of Vice President JD Vance, his cabinet, and the Republican majority in both chambers of Congress. Impeachment requires a simple majority in the House and a two-thirds vote in the Senate to convict — numbers Democrats don't have.

Markey knows that. He's making a statement, not a case.