Claims about former President Donald Trump’s cognitive health are circulating again online. These focus on comments from psychologist John Gartner, who suggests Trump shows signs consistent with dementia based on public behavior.
Gartner, a former Johns Hopkins faculty member, argues a comparison of Trump’s speech from the 1980s to now would reveal clear cognitive decline to any neuropsychologist. He cites reduced vocabulary, simpler sentence structure, and a tendency to repeat phrases as evidence.
A specific 2023 incident is highlighted, where Trump repeatedly referred to “Obama” while discussing President Joe Biden. Gartner asserts this mistake, made seven times, is a significant indicator.
The White House has dismissed these claims. Spokesperson Steven Cheung countered that the same experts previously vouched for Biden’s cognition, which he argues was proven false. He stated Trump has released medical records demonstrating perfect health.
This debate occurs amid broader scrutiny of aging U.S. leaders, following similar questions about President Biden’s fitness. It raises ethical concerns about diagnosing public figures without direct examination, per the American Psychiatric Association’s “Goldwater Rule.”
Trump’s allies view such commentary as politically motivated, pointing to his disclosed medical updates. Critics contend the public has a right to discuss the cognitive health of individuals seeking powerful office.
Ultimately, the dispute highlights how medical language and isolated verbal slips are increasingly weaponized in political arguments about competence and age.