The famous words of advice often attributed to Dale Carnegie have been circulating since the 1940s: “When life gives you lemons, make lemonade.” And few individuals embody this mindset more than Donald Trump.
Complaining about the onslaught of lawsuits and labeling them as a “witch hunt,” Trump is capitalizing on his legal battles. Rather than shying away from the media, he seizes every court appearance as a chance to communicate with the public, even though his remarks often lack substance and coherence.
Last week, outside a New York courtroom, Trump made a somber declaration stating, “We cannot hold an election in the midst of a political season. We have already had Super Tuesday, and we have had a Tuesday after Tuesday.”
Most reporters simply shook their heads in disbelief after hearing such nonsensical language. They thought to themselves, “There goes Trump again, speaking incoherently.”
After listening to Trump criticize the idea of having an election during a political season (since elections typically take place during such times), and witnessing his confusion between his primary opponent Nikki Haley and former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), as well as his repeated assertions that he was running against Barack Obama instead of Joe Biden, I couldn’t help but wonder if there was more to it. Was Trump simply confused, or was there a possibility that he was experiencing mental decline?
In search of answers, I reached out to Dr. John Gartner, a renowned psychologist and former professor of psychiatry at Johns Hopkins Medical Center for 28 years. Dr. Gartner, along with 36 other mental health professionals, contributed to the bestselling book “The Dangerous Case of Donald Trump” in 2017. I had the privilege of discussing this topic with him on my podcast, the “Bill Press Pod.”
Dr. Gartner’s professional analysis left me in awe.
When I inquired about the cognitive ability of Joe Biden and Donald Trump, Gartner was quick to point out that there is indeed a significant difference between the two. He compared it to “comparing apples and rotten oranges,” emphasizing that it goes beyond their similar age and signs of mental decline. According to Gartner, Biden is simply aging, while Trump is experiencing dementia.
As a mental health professional, Gartner has been observing Trump for years and has noted any potential diminishment in mental acuity. When asked about this, Gartner affirmed that there has been a noticeable decline. In his initial analysis of Trump in 2017, Gartner noted sporadic instances of mental collapse. However, he now believes that Trump’s condition has worsened. Notably, Trump is unable to complete a whole rally without exposing himself. Gartner explains that this is a progressive illness, meaning that Trump’s condition will continue to deteriorate. Drawing from his experience with similar patients, Gartner predicts that there will come a point when Trump will reach a cognitive breaking point and become completely incapacitated.
I asked Gartner if he thought the person in question was on the verge of losing control. To my surprise, Gartner’s response was shocking. He confidently stated, “I firmly believe that if he is reelected, he will experience cognitive decline. Given the rapid deterioration he is exhibiting, there is no way he can manage another four years without experiencing a significant decline.”
According to a prominent psychologist, it is predicted that Donald Trump will experience cognitive incapacitation within the next four years. This revelation brings to mind Nikki Haley’s suggestion of subjecting all candidates above the age of 75 to a mental competency test. It is only fair for Americans to have this information, as it pertains to the potential health risks a candidate may face, including the possibility of mental decline.
Bill Press, the host of “The Bill Press Pod,” is also an accomplished author. He has written the book “From the Left: A Life in the Crossfire.”
