Concerns about the mental health of the President of the United States, Donald Trump, continue to grow following new statements from his nephew, Fred Trump III, who openly expressed concern about alleged cognitive decline in the president, citing family history of dementia.
During a recent interview, Fred Trump III pointed out that he has observed behaviors in his uncle that remind him of other cases of dementia in the family, such as that of his cousin John Walters. The alarm increased after several American media outlets circulated images of the president stumbling while climbing the stairs of Air Force One on July 1st at Joint Base Andrews, just before traveling to Florida.
Experts identify early signs of dementia in Trump
Clinical psychologist and renowned presidential mental health specialist, Dr. John Gartner, stated that President Trump’s behavior shows at least four concerning signs associated with the early stages of frontotemporal dementia. “We observe a progressive deterioration in his motor skills, particularly when walking and climbing stairs,” explained Gartner on The Dean Obeidallah Show program.
According to the expert, the president -who recently turned 79 years old- would have started to show an abnormal swaying in his right leg, a key diagnostic feature of that condition. Additionally, he has been seen excessively leaning on his left leg, which was captured by cameras during his departure from the NATO summit in the Netherlands.
Stumbles, slowness, and worrying videos
On social media, a video has gone viral compiling moments when Trump appears to stumble, limp, or show difficulty walking, fueling the perception of physical deterioration. “A stumble is not a diagnosis of anything, but the repeated pattern, along with other signals, does raise red flags,” stated Gartner.
Some rumors even suggest that the president is hiding a catheter under his pants, which, if confirmed, could reinforce the hypothesis of a more serious neurological condition.
Medical evaluations
Despite concerns, recent medical reports indicate that Trump successfully passed the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), achieving a perfect score of 30 out of 30. Additionally, no signs of depression or anxiety were found. However, specialists warn that these types of tests do not always detect early stages of dementia, especially if the symptoms are more physical than cognitive.
Family precedents
Fred Trump III recalled that several members of the Trump family have faced mental illnesses in the past, which, according to him, reinforces the need for ongoing medical monitoring of the president’s health. “What I see worries me. This is not about politics, it’s about public health,” he stated.