The President claims he is in “excellent health” — and the White House physician concurs.
However, a notable Republican advisor is sounding alarms, suggesting that Donald Trump might be exhibiting signs of mental decline that could hinder him from completing another term.
Do you recall all the chatter back in April regarding Donald Trump’s highly publicized health examination?
Dr. Sean Barbabella reported that Trump demonstrates “robust cardiac, pulmonary, neurological and general physical function,” and noted that “his active lifestyle continues to significantly enhance his well-being.”
The examination involved 14 specialists and featured a neurological assessment that evaluated Trump’s reflexes, motor abilities, sensory reactions, mental condition, and even mood factors such as depression and anxiety.
At 78 years old, Trump is still the oldest individual to be inaugurated as president — and unlike many politicians, he refrains from smoking or drinking. The report also highlighted that he is 6’3” tall and weighs just over 220 pounds, indicating he has lost around 25 pounds since his previous term in office. His cholesterol levels have also seen improvement, as reported by the Associated Press.
In terms of health, aside from some minor sun damage and scarring on his right ear — a reminder of the assassination attempt during his July 2024 rally in Butler, Pennsylvania — doctors have stated there’s nothing alarming to report.
Encouraging Americans to stay vigilant
However, if you consult Rick Wilson, co-founder of the Lincoln Project, there are significant concerns to address. In an exclusive interview with Times Radio, Wilson expressed serious apprehensions regarding Donald Trump’s health, citing recent behaviors that he believes may indicate cognitive decline.
He is now urging Americans to be more observant.
“He is incoherent,” Wilson remarked to Times Radio. “His difficulty in expressing any thought or position without frequent interruptions, constant lapses, and the verbal aphasias he experiences at various times are concerning.”
Wilson has closely monitored Trump since 2015 and is convinced that the former president is exhibiting clear signs of decline.
“I can assure you that the person you’re seeing today is not the Trump of 2015, nor is he the Trump of 2020,” he added. “He’s not even the Trump of 2024.
And regarding the possibility of Trump completing another term? Wilson was quite candid:
“Whether he can make it through four years is still uncertain.”
Even with recent medical evaluations declaring Trump fit both physically and mentally, Wilson continues to express doubt — cautioning that test outcomes don’t always accurately represent what’s truly occurring in a person’s everyday actions.
“There are many experts out there observing the same behaviors and concluding, ‘This is what we observe in early dementia cases’… this is indicative of cognitive decline.”
Raised questions
Wilson emphasized that passing a cognitive screening does not guarantee that an individual is free from age-related challenges:
“The effects of aging and poor health,” he noted, could still be impacting the 78-year-old president.
Trump’s health report from April 2025 may have silenced some critics, but for individuals like Rick Wilson, it sparked more inquiries than it resolved.
Veteran journalist Timothy L. O’Brien shared this perspective during his appearance on MSNBC’s The Weekend: Primetime. He disclosed that Trump is profoundly “haunted” by the fear of experiencing the same cognitive decline that his father, Fred Trump, faced in his later years.
O’Brien — who has been observing Trump for many years — stated that the former president’s recent thoughts about running for a third term are not merely political theatrics.
According to him, Trump is motivated by “either self-aggrandizement or self-preservation,” and while he may fantasize about holding onto power indefinitely, “I don’t believe he will genuinely seek another term.”
The shift
Trump’s health report from April represented a notable change from his usual style of sharing medical information. In his campaigns of 2016 and 2020, health updates were typically short and vague, often presented as flattering one-liners with minimal detail. However, this time, the information shared was much more detailed — and possibly calculated.
As the 2024 election approached, Trump faced increasing pressure to provide a comprehensive medical report. He had consistently vowed to do so, yet he relied on previous letters from his doctors, including Dr. Ronny Jackson, who cared for him after the assassination attempt in 2023.
A note from Dr. Bruce Aronwald, issued on November 20, 2023 — coinciding with President Biden’s 81st birthday — indicated that Trump was in “excellent” health as of September 2023. Nevertheless, it lacked any test results or detailed information.
In October 2024, Steven Cheung, the communications director for Trump’s campaign, defended the choice to keep full details under wraps:
“President Trump has willingly shared updates from his personal doctor, along with comprehensive reports from Dr. Ronny Jackson, who provided care after the initial assassination attempt. All assessments have determined that he is in perfect and excellent health to serve as Commander in Chief.”
Cheung also took a jab at Trump’s then-rival, Kamala Harris:
“He has maintained an incredibly busy and active campaign schedule, unlike any seen in political history, while Kamala Harris has struggled to meet the demands of campaigning.”
The campaign even reintroduced the results of Trump’s 2018 cognitive screening from his first term — a document often referenced by Trump supporters when concerns about his mental acuity were raised.
However, from 2018 to 2025, no additional cognitive test results were released to the public. Dr. Jackson, who worked under both Obama and Trump, remained one of Trump’s staunchest advocates regarding his health.
The question isn’t whether Trump can pass a test — it’s whether that test provides a complete picture. And as Wilson perceives it, the true indicators of decline are unfolding in plain sight.