By Matt Underwood Ever since the announcement of Joe Biden as the presumptive nominee for the Democratic party in the 2020 U.S. presidential election, there has been much debate and speculation about who he was going to be up against. Donald Trump, the incumbent President, is a formidable candidate, not just because of his status as the sitting President but also due to his unpredictable actions and comments. Yet, the recent revelation that Trump has been confusing Biden with Obama again and again has brought to light not just issues with Trump’s cognition but also possible manipulation tactics that underpin his political strategy.
To start with, it is alarming that the leader of one of the world’s most powerful nations is clearly struggling with cognition, especially by getting people’s names and crucial historical information wrong. It is impossible to forget Trump’s blunder when he suggested that there were airports during the Revolutionary War, and even more shockingly, his more recent statement, where he said Biden was leading us to WWII. More than just confusing Biden with Obama, it appears that Trump’s understanding of historical timelines is somewhat skewed, which indicates a worrying lack of mental clarity.
These “slips” are all the more concerning because they seem repetitive and targeted. He constantly and incorrectly associates Biden with Obama, giving rise to theories that he might be doing so purposely to paint a particular narrative in the minds of his followers. It is no secret that Obama remains unpopular with Trump’s base. By conflating the two, Trump perhaps aims to evoke the same intense dislike for Biden, thereby swaying public opinion in his favor.
On the other hand, Trump supporters believe that he is intentionally confusing the two to “prod” the so-called “deep state Obamas,” who they suspect are pulling the puppet strings behind Biden’s campaign. This view paints Trump as a mastermind manipulating his follies to serve political ends. That said, manipulating or not, such confusions do not bode well for one tasked with the responsibility of leading a nation.
Yet, even beyond the tactical implications, these instances shine a spotlight on the worrying tendencies among his followers to accept and adapt to these inconsistencies. Trump’s base appears equipped to change their beliefs immediately upon finishing one statement, disregarding the contradictions. There seems to be no intellectual integrity demanded or expected from their leader.
So what might be causing this unending cycle of confusion from the President? Could it be lingering bitterness from the proverbial roast he received from Obama at a reporters’ dinner years ago? Is it a sign of mental decline, or perhaps an undisclosed health condition? Some even suggest that untreated syphilis may lead to such memory and cognitive issues.
Despite my speculations about Trump’s motivations or health, it would be irresponsible not to acknowledge the possibility that some of these theories could be grasping at straws to explain his mishaps. Trump, on occasion, has been known to make general statements that could be misinterpreted. In this case, it is possible, if not plausible, that Trump is merely bringing up Obama—the man he couldn’t beat—as an example.
Either way, Trump’s frequent confusion between Biden and Obama cannot be dismissed as mere slips of the tongue. It is indicative of a deeper issue at play—be it cognitive decline, a manipulative political strategy, or a hybrid of the two. What’s clear is that these occurrences cannot and should not be ignored. Whether they inform our views of his capabilities as a leader or influence our judgement of his political tactics, they have to be seen, studied, and critically engaged with. If anything, they serve as a stark reminder of the circus-like quality that ‘Trumpian’ politics has introduced into the democratic arena, and the urgent need for voters to see through it. I find confirmation of this confusion as much in his public addresses as in personal anecdotes shared by those close to him. He often replaces the names of familiar people, gets easily confused while navigating familiar spaces, and at times, uses the wrong words to describe familiar objects. This specific, recurring confusion could be the symptoms of a deeper issue that needs to be addressed.
One question that continues to gnaw at me and possibly every political analyst observing Trump is whether his frequent confusion between Biden and Obama deliberate or not? Using Obama’s name whenever he seems to be referring to Biden may just be his way of subtly reminding his base of their hatred for Obama, thereby linking their resentment to Biden. One could argue that it’s a clever political move- but that is only if it IS a move and not a cognitive flaw.
Gaffes are common among public speakers, even seasoned ones. However, the frequency and specificity of these errors are undeniably concerning. They suggest not only a possibility of cognitive issues but also a strange obsession with Barack Obama, stemming possibly from the time when Obama famously roasted him at a correspondence dinner in 2011. It almost seems as if Trump is continually running against Obama rather than his actual opponent.
The implications of Trump’s cognitive state extend beyond him. There’s a dangerous ease with which his followers adapt to and defend his inconsistencies. They disregard blatant contradictions as manipulative tactics aimed at unsettling the “deep state Obamas.” It is a concerning testament to the unwavering faith and lack of critical reflection seen among Trump’s loyalists.
Every time Trump confuses Biden with Obama, it feeds into the concerning pattern of his apparent cognitive decline or a manipulative political strategy. Either way, the reality of these slips—the implications they hold for the President’s capabilities and the response they continue to receive- is more than just a mere cause for concern, it’s a call to action. American voters and the global community must see through the mayhem and understand the weight of such ‘confusions.’
Escaping the pull of Trump’s political circus and his tendency to conflate Biden and Obama is no longer an option but a necessity. As the upcoming 2020 US elections inch closer, this call urges us to remember one thing: A clear, sharp mind is non-negotiable in a leader. And if we believe the same, it’s time we demand it.