By Matt Underwood As an observer of the political landscape, something that has always concerned me about former President Donald Trump is his undeniable degradation in physical and mental health over the years. This was evident during his presidency and, if anything, it has only gotten worse since then. The recent viral video of Trump slurring his words during a rally indeed raises many questions about his wellbeing and his capacity to fulfill any future leadership roles.
Trump supporters, on the other hand, seem to prefer turning a blind eye to this issue, even in the face of clear deterioration. His followers still laud his actions and behavior, calling them strokes of genius no matter how questionable they may seem. It’s as if the man could be on the precipice of total mental collapse, and his devout followers would continue to applaud him. I find this blind loyalty not just perplexing, but downright alarming.
Since Trump’s presidency, there have been murmurs in the press about his physical and mental fitness, with criticism and concerns growing louder in recent times. Trump had displayed erratic behavior, from struggling to walk down an incline to slurring words at public events, among other actions. This consistent inconsistency makes it clear that there’s reason for concern about his mental capacity.
Despite these red flags, the issue is not receiving the media attention it deserves. The narrative somehow always shifts to trivial matters, while significant issues related to his deteriorating cognitive ability are swept under the carpet. This tells us that either the media outlets are deliberately choosing to ignore the elephant in the room, or Trump’s outrageous actions just manage to sidetrack everything else.
Further, the potential health risks associated with his erratic behavior should set off alarm bells. The parallels drawn to an Alzheimer’s patient—a disease that is relentless and debilitating and leads to a rapid decline in mental and physical health—are chilling. The declining mental state, the inexplicable mood swings, lost motor control, there’s too much circumstantial evidence to ignore.
The root cause behind Trump’s degradation is speculative at this point. Some say it could be an aftermath of a silent stroke, others peg it to dementia, old age, or an over-reliance on medications. But whatever the reasons may be, they aren’t the driving issue here. The primary concern should be to question if someone with such cognitive decline can be trusted with critical responsibilities again.
In this context, the issue of Trump returning to a position of power is not just a hypothetical scenario anymore, which makes the conversation even more necessary and timely. He has hinted at running for president again in 2024, prompting us to put the spotlight on his insufficient mental capacity and unfitness for such a critical role, given his current health state.
Countless gaffes, inappropriate remarks, and erratic moves have been ignored or laughed off over the years, but Trump’s recent slurring of words at a rally shows a concerning new level of cognitive decline. It’s time to acknowledge that the former president’s health is not what it once was—and it’s time to ponder the implications of that fact.
The questions raised around Trump’s health are not just questions, but serious red flags that deserve immediate attention. We, as a democracy, need to be able to look at our leaders critically and question their capacity to lead, especially considering their physical and mental health. The Trump spectacle has been going on for far too long, and it’s high time we addressed his cognitive decline head-on, without biases or political agenda clouding our judgement. The stakes are too high for us to turn a blind eye. The cognitive decline of an individual is not a laughing matter and should be handled with sensitivity and empathy. For someone as public and influential as Donald Trump, however, the concern extends far beyond the individual and encapsulates the future and stability of our nation. Trump’s supporters have the right to support his political ideas, but they also have a responsibility to question whether his current mental state allows him to peform a demanding leadership role if he intends to run for public office again.
If the media does its job responsibly, it should indeed pay heed to these warning signs and consistently raise the necessary questions. The matter of Trump’s weakening cognitive ability must not be lost amid the noise of other sensationalist news. It is not just about Trump, but more about maintaining standards for those who are entrusted with leading our nation.
The apparent decline of Trump’s mental capacity should not be brushed off or normalized. It is not ‘just old age’. It travels well beyond the realm of peculiarities and idiosyncrasies. Trump confusing prominent political figures, demonstrating memory lapses, and displaying erratic behaviour points to a serious problem that could impact the security and stability of the nation, if he were to hold office again.
My concern extends beyond Trump, to the millions of his supporters who continue to unwaveringly stand with him. Despite the clear signs of his declining health, they would rather overlook or deny the obvious. It’s startling to observe this phenomenon of en masse denial or dismissal of a leader’s degrading health.
And this isn’t about politically-charged mud-slinging, but about the paramount importance of mental health and cognitive ability in leadership roles. An objective look must be had at the man’s actions and speech to evaluate his cognitive capabilities accurately.
We must look at Trump’s health situation not as a derision, but as an earnest concern. Trump’s slurred words and incoherent ranting are a startling wake up call. While we respect our elders and understand the inevitabilities of age, we cannot ignore when those effects may impact our leadership and, consequently, our country.
In conclusion, the crucial focus here isn’t about taking pot shots at a man’s health, but an earnest concern about the potential leaders of our nation. As informed citizens, we should value the mental fitness of our leaders as much as we do their political views. Casting a blind eye or ignoring the elephant in the room won’t make it go away – rather, we owe it to ourselves and future generations to address it head-on with the gravity it deserves.