President Donald Trump has expressed growing concern over his mental health, fearing that it could lead to the invocation of the 25th Amendment. This discussion emerged during a recent interview where Trump acknowledged wearing compression socks for swollen ankles, revealing his frustration that the public continues to question his health. According to psychologist Dr. John Gartner, who spoke on The Daily Beast Podcast, these worries reflect Trump’s increasing paranoia about potential threats to his power stemming from his declining cognitive and physical health.
Gartner, a former professor at Johns Hopkins University, has previously indicated that Trump exhibits signs of dementia, which may be intensified by his “malignant narcissism.” He noted that stories about Trump’s health provoke significant anger from the president, suggesting that he feels the need to project an image of strength, even as his health deteriorates. Gartner remarked, “As he’s starting to deteriorate, one of the signs of dementia is people becoming more paranoid,” indicating that Trump may perceive threats from those around him.
During his second term, Trump has shown a pattern of retaliating against perceived adversaries, a behavior acknowledged by his White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles, who described it as “retribution.” Recently, Trump used Truth Social to publicly call for the prosecution of former FBI Director James Comey and others he considers enemies, raising concerns about his mental state.
Gartner suggested that Trump may be displaying symptoms consistent with frontotemporal dementia, which primarily affects the frontal lobes of the brain, leading to disinhibition and impulsive behaviors. He described the situation as troubling, stating, “We have this person who has virtually absolute power and no guardrails, who, in a demented state, is impulsively being driven to act out in these paranoid and destructive and crazy ways.”
In a striking example of his assertiveness, Trump recently announced plans for U.S. control over Venezuela’s resources, including its oil, following the U.S. capture of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro. He also renamed the historic Monroe Doctrine to the “Donroe Doctrine” in his own honor. Gartner emphasized the risk these actions pose, stating that Trump’s cognitive confusion may lead to decisions that are irrational or disconnected from reality.
Despite these claims, Trump maintains that he is in “PERFECT HEALTH.” In a post on Truth Social, he asserted that he “ACED” a cognitive test for the third time, a sentiment echoed by White House Assistant Press Secretary Liz Huston, who reiterated that Trump remains in excellent health according to his physician, Dr. Sean Barbabella.
Gartner countered this perspective, suggesting that the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) test should not be administered repeatedly unless there are concerns regarding dementia. He pointed to a New Republic article highlighting what it termed Trump’s “11 Most Senile Moments,” which included incidents like the president appearing to fall asleep during public appearances and fixating on the word “groceries.”
When asked about the implications of Trump’s health for those working closely with him, Gartner had a straightforward recommendation: “invoke the 25th Amendment.” As the political landscape continues to shift, the conversation around Trump’s health and its implications for his presidency remains a critical topic of discussion.
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