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It was written to address the situation where a president physically cannot discharge the duties and powers of the office. It was intended to deal with the situation where a president is in a coma, or is under anesthesia, or otherwise not cognizant and able to do things like sign legislation, veto bills, conduct diplomatic relations. Proposals for something like the 25th amendment had been discussed for several years, but it was the Kennedy Assassination that created the impetus to push it forward to adoption and ratification as concerns were expressed about the possibility of a president being in an extended period of unconsciousness.

While Section 4 has has never been invoked, section 3 has been invoked a few times, including by Reagan (albeit clumsily),GW Bush, and Joe Biden), in each instance prior to going into a medical procedure where they would be unconscious for a period of time.

The fact is that Trump is able to discharge the powers and duties of the office of the Presidency. Indeed, it is the very fact that he is discharging those powers -- signing legislation, conducting diplomatic affairs, acting as commander in chief, etc. that makes us all so fearful -- because we realize he is discharging them in a way we find abhorrent. But as folks may have noticed, not everyone finds his actions abhorrent and, most significantly, his cabinet seems to absolutely love the way he discharges his powers.

When repubs argued that section 4 of the 25th should have been invoked against Joe Biden, I made exactly the same argument as made above -- Joe was perfectly capable of carrying out the duties and powers of the presidency and the fact that MAGAs didn't like it wasn't a valid basis for invoking the 25th.