Why Trump’s Mental Decline Could Be Unstoppable, According to One Expert.

Despite perfect official health reports, experts like Dr. John Gartner and Dr. Harry Segal warn that Trump shows classic cognitive decline signs—speech deterioration, memory distortion, and gait changes—that may be progressive and irreversible.

The claims made by psychiatric experts about Donald Trump’s mental health, focusing on unusual cognitive changes. Between a parade of official health letters and eye-opening expert observations, we’ll weigh evidence, anecdotes, and opinions. Are America’s public figures transparent about their cognitive fitness—or is the real story hiding in plain sight?

Let’s set the scene: The year is 2025, and headlines are buzzing about Donald Trump—not just his politics, but what’s going on inside his head. Imagine you’re at a family dinner and an offhanded, rambling speech by Grandpa triggers a hurried Google search for dementia symptoms. That’s the mood swirling around Trump’s recent public appearances. Forget party lines—experts, fans, and critics alike are whispering: Is there more to Trump’s behavior than meets the eye?

Trump Dementia Signs: What the Experts Are Actually Saying

Concerns about Donald Trump’s cognitive health have been swirling for years, but in recent months, some mental health professionals have become even more vocal. Experts like Dr. John Gartner, a former assistant professor of psychiatry at Johns Hopkins University Medical School, and Dr. Harry Segal, a senior lecturer in psychology at Cornell, are pointing to specific Trump dementia signs that they believe indicate possible early-stage dementia or cognitive decline. Here’s what they’re actually saying, and why it matters.

John Gartner: Loss of Coherence and Speech Fluency as Red Flags

Dr. John Gartner has been one of the most outspoken critics of Trump’s mental health trajectory. He’s not just making broad claims—he’s pointing to clear changes in Trump’s communication style over the decades. According to Gartner, the shift from Trump’s articulate, polished speeches in the 1980s to his current, often rambling public remarks is a major warning sign.

“If you go back and look at film from the 1980s, [Trump] actually was extremely articulate. He was still a jerk, but he was able to express himself in polished paragraphs, and now he really has trouble completing a thought and that is a huge deterioration.”
– John Gartner

Gartner frames this change as a classic sign of cognitive decline. He emphasizes that dementia is marked by a “gross deterioration from someone’s baseline and function,” and in his view, Trump’s loss of coherence and speech fluency are clear red flags. This isn’t just about forgetting a word here and there—it’s about a noticeable inability to finish thoughts or maintain a logical narrative, which was not the case in Trump’s earlier years.

‘Duty to Warn’ Group: Impulsivity, Memory Distortion, and Narrative Gaps

Gartner is also a founding member of Duty to Warn, a coalition of mental health professionals who have repeatedly warned about Trump’s mental fitness. The group has highlighted several cognitive decline signs in Trump, including:

• Increased impulsivity—making abrupt decisions or statements without self-regulation
• Memory distortion—confabulation, or the creation of false memories and facts
• Narrative gaps—difficulty sticking to a coherent story or topic

These experts argue that Trump’s tendency to jump from topic to topic, fabricate details, and contradict himself are not just quirks—they could be symptoms of early-stage dementia or another form of cognitive impairment.

Observable Signs: Gait Abnormalities, Speech Issues, and Topic-Drifting

Beyond speech, some experts have pointed out physical and behavioral signs. For example, Dr. Gartner and others have noted:

• Gait abnormalities—changes in the way Trump walks, which can be a sign of neurological aging
• Phonemic paraphasia—mixing up words or syllables, leading to speech that is sometimes hard to follow
• Topic-drifting—abruptly switching topics mid-sentence or mid-thought

These signs, when taken together, paint a picture that worries many mental health professionals. According to Gartner, “things will only get worse” if the underlying condition is progressive, as is often the case with dementia.

Harry Segal: Digression and Confabulation as Cognitive Health Assessment Markers

Dr. Harry Segal, a psychologist at Cornell, has also weighed in on Trump’s mental status. In an interview with The Guardian, Segal highlighted two key behaviors:

• Digressing without thinking—Trump’s tendency to abruptly switch topics without any self-regulation, making it hard to follow his train of thought
• Confabulation—the fabrication or distortion of memories, where Trump adds details to stories that never actually happened

According to Segal, these behaviors are classic markers used in cognitive health assessments to spot early signs of dementia or neurological aging. He notes that while Trump’s aides and official doctors have repeatedly insisted that he is in “excellent cognitive and physical health,” the symptoms observed in public appearances tell a different story.

AI and Public Perception: The Grok Analysis

Even AI tools are picking up on these patterns. Elon Musk’s AI bot, Grok, recently summarized the expert consensus, stating that Trump “exhibits symptoms of cognitive deterioration resembling frontotemporal dementia,” referencing studies and expert opinions like those of Dr. Gartner.

While official medical records, such as the MoCA (Montreal Cognitive Assessment) test, show “perfect health,” experts argue that real-world behavior—especially in high-pressure public settings—offers a more accurate picture of cognitive health.

Ultimately, the growing list of Trump dementia signs cited by experts like John Gartner and Harry Segal includes loss of coherence, speech difficulties, impulsivity, memory distortion, gait issues, and narrative confusion. These are the red flags that have many in the mental health field concerned about the former president’s cognitive trajectory.

Can Official Health Letters and MoCA Test Results Be Trusted?

When it comes to evaluating Donald Trump’s cognitive and physical health, official documents and test results like the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) and health letters from the White House physician are often front and center. But do these sources really tell the whole story about Trump’s mental fitness? Let’s break down what these health evaluations actually mean—and what experts are saying about their reliability.

What Do the Official Records Say?

In April 2025, White House physician Dr. Sean Barbabella released a letter declaring Trump’s health to be top-notch. The statement was clear:

The president “exhibits excellent cognitive and physical health and is fully fit to execute the duties of the commander-in-chief and head of state.” – Dr. Sean Barbabella

This isn’t the first time such a letter has been published. During Trump’s presidency and beyond, official health letters have routinely assured the public that he is in excellent shape. These documents are designed to reassure both the public and political allies that the president is up to the job, both mentally and physically.

MoCA Test Results: What Do They Actually Prove?

One of the most cited pieces of evidence for Trump’s cognitive health is his perfect score of 30/30 on the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) back in 2018. The MoCA test is a widely used screening tool for detecting mild cognitive impairment. It covers basic tasks like remembering a short list of words, drawing a clock, and identifying animals.

• MoCA test results Trump: 30/30 (2018)
• Purpose: Screens for signs of dementia and cognitive decline
• Limitations: Not designed to catch subtle or early-stage deficits

While a perfect MoCA score sounds impressive, many experts argue that the test is simply too basic to capture the complex cognitive demands of a president. The MoCA is a screening tool, not a comprehensive neuropsychological evaluation. It’s possible to ace the test and still struggle with higher-level executive functions—like decision-making, impulse control, and maintaining a coherent narrative—especially under stress.

Expert Opinions: Are These Assessments Enough?

Despite the official statements and MoCA test results, a growing number of mental health professionals are raising red flags. Dr. John Gartner, a former assistant professor of psychiatry at Johns Hopkins, has been especially vocal:

“What we see are the classic signs of dementia, which is gross deterioration from someone’s baseline and function.” – Dr. John Gartner

Gartner and others point out that Trump’s public behavior—such as rambling speech, abrupt topic changes, and confabulation (making up or distorting memories)—doesn’t always match the image painted by official health evaluations. Dr. Harry Segal, a senior lecturer at Cornell, notes that Trump often digresses without self-regulation and fabricates details, both of which can be signs of neurological aging.

Official Letters vs. Real-World Functioning

There’s a growing consensus among experts that official health letters and basic cognitive tests like the MoCA may not reflect day-to-day functioning. These assessments are often conducted in controlled settings and may not account for the pressures and unpredictability of real-world leadership.

• Official health letters: May be crafted for public reassurance, not scientific rigor
• MoCA test: Good for screening, but not for catching subtle cognitive decline
• Observable behavior: Experts note ongoing signs of cognitive and behavioral changes

Even advanced AI tools, like Elon Musk’s Grok, have flagged Trump’s symptoms as resembling frontotemporal dementia, citing expert studies and family history. Yet, the official record remains unchanged: Trump is described as “fully fit.”

The Gap Between Tests and Reality

Ultimately, the contrast between Trump health evaluations—including the MoCA test results—and his observable behavior is at the heart of the debate. While official documents and basic tests offer a snapshot of cognitive health, many experts believe they fall short of capturing the full picture, especially when it comes to the complex demands of presidential leadership.

Digressions, Memory Twists, and Gait Wobbles: Tracing the Behavioral Trail

If you’ve ever watched Donald Trump speak off-the-cuff lately, you might have noticed something odd—his stories don’t just meander, they sometimes take wild detours. According to psychologist Harry Segal, a senior lecturer at Cornell University, this isn’t just a quirk. It’s a classic sign of neurological aging. Segal points out that Trump’s tendency to suddenly change topics, ramble, or lose the thread of a conversation—what experts call “topic-drifting”—isn’t just confusing for listeners. It’s a red flag for cognitive decline.

Segal explains that Trump’s unscripted moments often lack a coherent narrative. He’ll start on one subject and, without warning, veer off into unrelated territory. It’s like that moment at a family gathering when your uncle starts telling a story about fishing, but halfway through, it morphs into a rant about conspiracy theories—with a few unexpected dance moves thrown in. For many, Trump’s public appearances now have that same unpredictable energy, and experts say it’s more than just a personality trait.

These digressions are just one piece of the puzzle. Another key indicator is confabulation—a term used by neurologists and psychologists to describe the invention or distortion of memories. As Segal puts it,

“It’s where he takes an idea or something that has happened and he adds to it things that have not happened.”

This kind of memory distortion isn’t about lying for political gain; it’s a subconscious attempt to fill in gaps when memory falters. In Trump’s case, confabulation has become a frequent feature, with invented details and warped recollections popping up in speeches and interviews. This behavior is a well-documented marker of dementia and other forms of cognitive impairment.

The pattern doesn’t stop at speech and memory. Observers have also noted changes in Trump’s physical presence—specifically, his gait. Reports from 2025 media coverage and expert analysis have highlighted subtle but telling signs: a limp, an unusual leg swing, and occasional balance issues. These gait abnormalities might seem minor, but they’re often early indicators of neurological aging and motor skills decline. In fact, doctors say that changes in walking and balance can sometimes show up before more obvious cognitive symptoms, serving as a warning sign that the brain’s control over the body is slipping.

Taken together, these signs—rambling speech, memory distortion, and physical wobbles—paint a picture that’s hard to ignore. Dr. John Gartner, a former assistant professor of psychiatry at Johns Hopkins, has been sounding the alarm for years. He points out that if you compare Trump’s public speaking from the 1980s to now, the difference is stark. Back then, Trump was articulate and could express himself in polished paragraphs. Today, he often struggles to complete a thought, and his sentences can trail off or collapse into unrelated tangents. This “gross deterioration from someone’s baseline and function,” as Gartner describes it, is a classic symptom of frontotemporal dementia.

Even AI is picking up on these patterns. Elon Musk’s Grok bot recently summarized expert consensus, noting that Trump’s symptoms—gait difficulties, rambling, and paraphasia (trouble finding the right words)—closely resemble those seen in frontotemporal dementia. While official White House records and cognitive tests like the MoCA may claim perfect health, the real-world evidence tells a different story. Public appearances are filled with frequent topic-shifting, invented stories, and visible motor decline.

For families who have watched a loved one experience dementia, these changes are all too familiar. The combination of verbal confusion and physical cues forms a well-rounded cluster of early cognitive and motor changes. As Segal and other experts warn, these are not isolated incidents or harmless quirks. They’re neurological aging indicators that suggest Trump’s mental decline may not just be real—it could be unstoppable.

In the end, the behavioral trail—marked by digressions, memory twists, and gait wobbles—offers a sobering look at what may lie ahead. Whether you’re a supporter, a critic, or simply a concerned observer, the signs are there for anyone willing to trace them. And as the experts keep reminding us, these symptoms rarely reverse. For Trump, the road forward may only get rockier.

TL;DR: Amidst glowing official reports and a backdrop of speculation, serious experts warn of cognitive decline signs in Trump, referencing both behavioral shifts and known medical indicators. While the debate rages, more transparency and rigorous cognitive testing could help clear the air—for Trump and for all aging leaders in spotlight roles.

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