Concerns over Donald Trump’s cognitive health have intensified after two prominent psychologists suggested the 79-year-old former president is showing “classic signs” of neurological decline.
Dr John Gartner, a former assistant professor of psychiatry at Johns Hopkins University Medical School, and Harry Segal, a senior lecturer in psychology at Cornell University, both pointed to behavioural changes they say could indicate dementia.
Speaking to the Guardian, Segal noted Trump’s tendency to abruptly change subjects mid-conversation, describing it as “digressing without thinking” and lacking “a coherent narrative.” He also cited Trump’s apparent habit of “confabulation,” where real memories are mixed with imagined events.
Gartner, who co-founded the group Duty to Warn during Trump’s first term to highlight concerns about his mental state, argued the former president’s speech patterns have significantly deteriorated over decades. “If you go back and look at film from the 1980s, [Trump] was extremely articulate. He was still a jerk, but he was able to express himself in polished paragraphs. Now he really has trouble completing a thought, and that is a huge deterioration,” he said.
The psychiatrist added that he believes Trump is in cognitive decline and warned: “It’s going to get worse. That’s my prediction.”
The speculation comes despite repeated assurances from Trump’s camp that he remains in good health. In April, White House physician Dr Sean Barbabella declared the president “fully fit” to serve, insisting he was in “excellent cognitive and physical health.”
Even Elon Musk’s AI chatbot Grok recently echoed claims of possible dementia, referencing expert analyses of Trump’s gait, speech issues and family history of Alzheimer’s, while noting that official tests such as the MoCA have so far been used to support claims of good health.
Trump has long faced scrutiny over verbal slips, rambling public appearances and unusual physical mannerisms, with critics suggesting these may be linked to aging or a neurological condition. Supporters, however, dismiss the speculation as politically motivated attacks designed to undermine his re-election campaign.
Segal and Gartner’s comments are the latest in a series of expert assessments questioning the president’s mental sharpness. While neither has formally examined Trump, both say his public appearances provide visible signs of cognitive decline.
The warnings arrive as Trump continues his third bid for the presidency, with polls showing his approval ratings slipping amid growing focus on his health. His campaign has not directly addressed the recent remarks, instead referring reporters back to Dr Barbabella’s earlier statement.
If confirmed, the decline described by the experts could impact Trump’s ability to campaign effectively and respond to the demands of office — a concern both medical professionals say will only deepen as time goes on.
