By Matt Underwood It isn’t exactly a secret anymore. It should be a headline by now – “Donald Trump is losing it.” This is something that has been persistently discussed in political circles, across social media, and even in hushed whispers among friends and family. Yet, the mainstream media seem avidly resistant to framing this narrative, and I find myself asking why they seem hesitant to make this an important story.
To paint the picture only from my observation, Trump has proven time and again his disposition to indulging his most baseless and incoherent rants. His vocalized thoughts are chaotic, bordering on nonsensical, and often leave people bewildered, asking, “did he just say that?” From his conspiracy-laden utterances to his consistent inability to maintain a coherent conversation, it’s impossible to overlook the signs that Trump is, as it were, losing it.
I can see the counter-argument now, probably from a Fox News anchor arguing that focusing on Trump’s mental stability is some political ploy to undermine him. But when Biden stumbles on a flight of stairs or mispronounces a name, it becomes headline news. Trump, however, can deliver a speech soaked in fallacies, discrepancies, and confusion, yet the media hardly bats an eyelid.
This is not a partisan issue; it’s a matter of public concern. It’s not about whether one leans right or left; it’s about the reality that a former president, with undeniable influence and power, appears to be declining mentally. This should be alarming regardless of political affiliation.
The media’s reluctance baffles me. They report on everything else he does – every controversial tweet, every offensive statement. Yet when it comes to questioning his mental well-being, there’s an odd silence.
And this is not a situation akin to crying wolf. Trump’s actions and statements have been outlandish, unsettling, and consistently questionable. From his “fine people” comment after a neo-Nazi rally to his social media war with Kim Jong Un – these are not instances which enhance faith in Trump’s mental stability. Moreover, many of them have been ignored or normalized by the media, who tend to focus more on sensationalism than holding power accountable.
However, I don’t disregard the complexity of the situation. Covering this issue can feed into the already polarized political climate, giving further ammunition to those who claim any criticism of Trump is part of a political agenda. However, the risks of not reporting it are far more grave.
Given how popular he still is among a sizeable faction of the American populace, not addressing this topic can perpetuate a damaging narrative — that this sort of behavior is acceptable, normal even, for those in power. It also leaves open the very real possibility that Trump could be nominated again for the presidency; a potentially dangerous prospect if his mental state continues to degenerate.
The media would do us all a service by framing this narrative and reporting it widely. He was, after all, a president, and his influence continues to linger long past his departure from the office. By sugarcoating or ignoring the very real signs of his declining mental state, the media is complicit in enabling his erratic conduct.
At the end of the day, it’s not about demonizing Trump for political gain or condemning him for past political missteps. It’s about shining a light on his present state of being and questioning whether that state is compatible with the values, responsibilities, and decision-making leadership skills required for a potential future president. Media has a role in this, and it needs to step up and start painting the narrative truthfully: Donald Trump appears to be losing it. Will they make it a story? For the sake of those who subscribe to the notion of a sane, balanced leadership, one can only hope so. It isn’t exactly a secret anymore. It should be a headline by now – “Donald Trump is losing it.” This is something that has been persistently discussed in political circles, across social media, and even in hushed whispers among friends and family. Yet, the mainstream media seem avidly resistant to framing this narrative, and I find myself asking why they seem hesitant to make this an important story.
To paint the picture only from my observation, Trump has proven time and again his disposition to indulging his most baseless and incoherent rants. His vocalized thoughts are chaotic, bordering on nonsensical, and often leave people bewildered, asking, “did he just say that?” From his conspiracy-laden utterances to his consistent inability to maintain a coherent conversation, it’s impossible to overlook the signs that Trump is, as it were, losing it.
I can see the counter-argument now, probably from a Fox News anchor arguing that focusing on Trump’s mental stability is some political ploy to undermine him. But when Biden stumbles on a flight of stairs or mispronounces a name, it becomes headline news. Trump, however, can deliver a speech soaked in fallacies, discrepancies, and confusion, yet the media hardly bats an eyelid.
This is not a partisan issue; it’s a matter of public concern. It’s not about whether one leans right or left; it’s about the reality that a former president, with undeniable influence and power, appears to be declining mentally. This should be alarming regardless of political affiliation.
The media’s reluctance baffles me. They report on everything else he does – every controversial tweet, every offensive statement. Yet when it comes to questioning his mental well-being, there’s an odd silence.
And this is not a situation akin to crying wolf. Trump’s actions and statements have been outlandish, unsettling, and consistently questionable. From his “fine people” comment after a neo-Nazi rally to his social media war with Kim Jong Un – these are not instances that enhance faith in Trump’s mental stability. Moreover, many of them have been ignored or normalized by the media — who tend to focus more on sensationalism than holding power accountable.
However, I don’t disregard the complexity of the situation. Covering this issue can feed into the already polarized political climate, giving further ammunition to those who claim any criticism of Trump is part of a political agenda. However, the risks of not reporting it are far more grave.
Given how popular he still is among a sizable faction of the American populace, not addressing this topic can perpetuate a damaging narrative — that this sort of behavior is acceptable, normal even, for those in power. It also leaves open the very real possibility that Trump could be nominated again for the presidency; a potentially dangerous prospect if his mental state continues to degenerate.
The media would do us all a service by framing this narrative and reporting it widely. He was, after all, a president, and his influence continues to linger long past his departure from the office. By sugarcoating or ignoring the very real signs of his declining mental state, the media is complicit in enabling his erratic conduct.
At the end of the day, it’s not about demonizing Trump for political gain or condemning him for past political missteps. It’s about shining a light on his present state of being and questioning whether that state is compatible with the values, responsibilities, and decision-making leadership skills required for a potential future president. Media has a role in this, and it needs to step up and start painting the narrative truthfully: Donald Trump appears to be losing it. Will they make it a story? For the sake of those who subscribe to the notion of a sane, balanced leadership, one can only hope so.