Fresh debate over Donald Trump’s cognitive health is heating up once again, even as official medical assessments continue to describe the former president as fit, stable, and fully capable of holding the nation’s highest office. The clash between formal evaluations and external expert commentary has thrown presidential wellness back into the spotlight, fueling public scrutiny and political chatter.
Earlier this year, Trump’s physician, Dr. Sean Barbabella, released a detailed medical report. The assessment highlighted Trump’s physical stats—75 inches tall, 224 pounds—and noted normal cardiovascular, neurological, and sensory findings. The report acknowledged minor procedures, including cataract surgery and a routine colonoscopy with a benign polyp, but concluded that these were not limiting. Overall, Barbabella described Trump as strong, resilient, and cognitively sharp, fully capable of performing the duties of commander-in-chief.
Trump himself reinforced the report’s findings. After undergoing a comprehensive cognitive test, he told reporters he answered every question correctly and emphasized that the evaluation included extensive testing beyond basic screenings, highlighting his stamina, heart health, and neurological function. His confidence mirrored his long-standing insistence that he remains in peak condition.
Despite this, concerns persist outside official channels. Psychologist Dr. John Gartner, a former Johns Hopkins instructor, has publicly suggested that Trump may be showing early signs of frontotemporal dementia—a progressive disorder affecting behavior, speech, and motor coordination. On The Dean Obeidallah Show, Gartner pointed to changes in Trump’s movement and balance, contrasting archival footage of him in the 1980s playing volleyball with more recent appearances where he seemed slower, stiffer, and occasionally unsteady.
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