Since the beginning of his second term, the question has been raised repeatedly: is Donald Trump still fully fit to serve as president? In an article published in the British Medical Journal, 30 American doctors openly question Trump’s fitness to serve as president. According to them, he poses a “clear and immediate danger” to the world. Their drastic demand is: Trump’s immediate removal from office.
FATIGUE, CONFUSION AND UNSURE WALK
Experts, including neurologists, psychiatrists and psychologists, see signs of declining mental abilities in Trump. They refer to slurred speech, sudden transitions from one topic to another and Trump’s apparent fatigue. In a photo by Reuters, for example, Donald Trump was recently seen with his eyes closed during an official meeting in the Oval Office. The White House called this a “blink,” while critics interpreted it as another moment of lapse in concentration. Trump is also said to be dozing repeatedly during cabinet meetings.
The suspicions have been compounded by other observations during public appearances, when Trump sometimes loses the thread of conversation, confuses names or contradicts his own statements within a short time. Added to these are his impulsive statements, such as harsh threats in international conflicts, which have surprised even his political allies. In parallel, photographs of his bruised hands and reports of an unsteady gait have also been circulating.
DOES TRUMP SUFFER FROM MEGALOMANIA?
Doctors also believe that Donald Trump has “megalomaniacal and delusional beliefs.” A recent photo created with artificial intelligence that depicted him as Jesus caused strong reactions. After criticism, Trump deleted the post and stated that he had thought that he looked like a doctor in that photo. And the way he speaks about some cognitive tests has raised questions. Trump constantly boasts that he has supposedly taken “difficult intelligence tests.” But in fact, it was about the so-called MoCA tests, simple procedures for the early detection of dementia and not intelligence tests.
THE ACCUSES ARE DEBATEABLE
In psychiatry, there is the so-called Goldwater rule, according to which making diagnoses remotely, that is, without a direct examination of the person, is considered unethical. Therefore, experts warn against making specific diagnoses remotely. At the same time, they emphasize that the absence of a diagnosis does not automatically mean that there is no reason to worry; on the contrary, according to them, in Trump’s case, an “urgent clinical examination” is needed.
Such an examination has been announced for the end of May, when Trump is expected to undergo a check-up at Walter Reed Military Hospital. How transparent the results will be remains unclear. What is clear is that the debate over Trump’s mental and physical state has already become a political issue and is likely to continue to accompany him. (D.W.)