Trump could be showing signs of cognitive decline and may not last his full term, claims GOP advisor

Rick Wilson warned that some experts are suggesting Donald Trump may be in the early stages of dementia, despite the White House physician saying otherwise
A Republican advisor claimed that President Donald Trump could be showing signs of cognitive decline and may not last his entire presidential term (Getty Images)
A Republican advisor claimed that President Donald Trump could be showing signs of cognitive decline and may not last his entire presidential term (Getty Images)

WASHINGTON, DC: Republican political advisor Rick Wilson has warned that President Donald Trump may not last his White House term, and claimed that the POTUS could be showing signs of cognitive decline.

The political strategist warned that some experts are suggesting Trump may be in the early stages of dementia despite the White House physician saying he was in “excellent cognitive and physical health” in April, the Irish Star reported. 

U.S. President Donald Trump listens during a Cabinet meeting at the White House on February 26, 2025 in Washington, DC. Trump is holding the first Cabinet meeting of his second term, joined by Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk, head of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). (Photo by Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)
President Donald Trump listens during a Cabinet meeting at the White House on February 26, 2025, in Washington, DC (Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)

GOP advisor claims may not last four years due to cognitive decline

Rick Wilson spoke to Times Radio and claimed that Donald Trump’s decline was evident not just when compared to 2015, but to 2024, and his run for a second presidential term.

"He is incoherent. His inability to articulate any thought or position without constant asides, constant lapses, the verbal aphasias he is experiencing at various points," he told Times Radio.

WASHINGTON, DC - MAY 30: U.S. President Donald Trump, joined by Tesla CEO Elon Musk, speaks to reporters in the Oval Office of the White House on May 30, 2025 in Washington, DC. Musk, who served as an adviser to Trump and led the Department of Government Efficiency, announced he would leave the Trump administration to refocus on his businesses. (Photo by Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)
President Donald Trump in the Oval Office of the White House on May 30, 2025, in Washington, DC (Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)

Rick continued, "As a very close observer of Trump since 2015, I can tell you the man you’re watching today is not the Trump of 2015, nor is he the Trump of 2020, he’s not even the Trump of 2024."

"There is a decline in Trump’s ability to communicate, there is a decline in Trump’s ability to articulate his thoughts. This is not uncommon when people get older," he added.

Moreover, Rick said that it wasn’t just him who was concerned about Trump’s neurological condition, as other experts told him they believed the POTUS could, without any proof, have developed dementia.

WASHINGTON, DC - MAY 30: U.S. President Donald Trump, joined by Tesla CEO Elon Musk, speaks to reporters in the Oval Office of the White House on May 30, 2025 in Washington, DC. Musk, who served as an adviser to Trump and led the Department of Government Efficiency, announced he would leave the Trump administration to refocus on his businesses. (Photo by Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)
President Donald Trump, joined by Tesla CEO Elon Musk, speaks to reporters in the Oval Office of the White House on May 30, 2025, in Washington, DC (Photo by Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)

"There are an awful lot of professionals in the world who are looking at the same set of behaviours and saying ‘This is what we see in early dementia cases’… this is what we see when there is a cognitive decline," Rick said.

He added, "Just circling the elephant on the cognitive test does not make Donald Trump not suffering from the ravages of age and ill health."

Interestingly, Trump’s health has been called into question earlier as well, as experts warned earlier in 2025 about his weight loss and what may have caused it.

Meanwhile, his doctor Sean Barbabella said in a memo, "President Trump remains in excellent health, exhibiting robust cardiac, pulmonary, neurological, and general physical function."

Speech expert claims Donald Trump shows signs of ‘cognitive decline’

Top rhetoric expert, Dr Jennifer R Mercieca, professor of Communication and Journalism at Texas A&M University, claimed that Trump’s recent rambling speeches and stream-of-consciousness press briefings could be signs of his "cognitive decline."

She told The Daily Beast, "His lack of focus makes it seem as though he’s experiencing cognitive decline, that his brain is not well-disciplined, and he’s unable to maintain a thought and carry it through to a logical conclusion."

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA - FEBRUARY 09: U.S. President Donald Trump attends the Super Bowl LIX Pregame at Caesars Superdome on February 09, 2025 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for Roc Nation)
President Donald Trump attends the Super Bowl LIX Pregame at Caesars Superdome on February 9, 2025, in New Orleans, Louisiana (Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for Roc Nation)

Meanwhile, she added that while she is not a speech pathologist or an expert on aging, she knows how an audience could easily become confused by the way he talks, per the outlet.

She said, "Trump sees himself as someone who is unscripted and not teleprompter. He likes to brand himself as a ‘truthteller’ who can and will say anything that comes to mind."

"Unfortunately, that makes his speeches difficult to follow as he digresses from thought to thought—seemingly connecting ideas at random," the doctor added.

GET BREAKING U.S. NEWS & POLITICAL UPDATES
STRAIGHT TO YOUR INBOX.

MORE STORIES

In August, President Trump said he and Melania represented a 'very different' America from Abdul El-Sayed and his wife
2 minutes ago
President Donald Trump announced a sweeping media ban on Friday, barring CNN, MS NOW, and Politico journalists from entering the White House
14 minutes ago
Barack Obama warned that AI could become disastrous for its developers if it realized humans were no longer necessary
51 minutes ago
A question about a Russian businessman's role in Trump Jr's wedding prompted JB Pritzker to broaden his attack on the president and leave 2028 open
1 hour ago
President Trump told reporter Trey Yingst he was weighing his next move on Iran, considering military action or a deal
2 hours ago
The announcement came as federal agencies continued reviewing the monument's location, design, and aviation implications
2 hours ago
Democrats have discussed using congressional authority to investigate the Trump administration and related matters if they regain control
8 hours ago
Trump returned to Washington a day early as the State Department urged Americans to exercise heightened vigilance across the Middle East
10 hours ago
The Trump administration is shifting surveillance assets from Africa Command to Southern Command amid preparations for potential counterterrorism operations
12 hours ago
'We have no bigger task than fighting to protect the right to vote from interference and meddling,' Gavin Newsom said
13 hours ago