Donald Trump Sparks Dementia Concerns with Public Speech Missteps

Concerns regarding President Donald Trump‘s cognitive health have intensified following a public address on November 13, 2023, where he displayed noticeable confusion while speaking. During a signing ceremony for First Lady Melania Trump‘s initiative titled ‘Fostering the Future for American Children and Families’, Trump repeatedly misused the word “adopt” in place of “adapt”, leading to widespread speculation about his mental fitness.

In a video of the event, Trump stated, “Christians and more, think of this, more than twice as likely foster care, they’ll adopt the general population.” He continued, “They adopt to it so easily. When they get out, they adopt to it like it’s become second nature. It’s amazing.” The situation escalated further when he attempted to clap, with footage capturing his left hand making contact while his right arm appeared immobile, a moment that drew sharp reactions online.

The social media response was swift and critical, with users expressing alarm over the president’s condition. One commenter noted, “Trump got ‘adapt’ confused with ‘adopt’ three times today and then failed to move one of his arms while trying to clap,” while another remarked that he was “like a bag of garbage left out in the sun,” suggesting a decline in his cognitive abilities.

These incidents come amid a growing list of what critics term “cognitive red flags.” Since beginning his second term, Trump has made headlines for peculiar statements, including bizarre claims about magnets and confusing various countries. Additionally, he has disclosed undergoing an MRI during a recent examination at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center. While White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt insisted that this MRI was routine, some medical professionals raised concerns on social media.

Physical observations have also raised questions about Trump’s health, including visible bruises, episodes of falling asleep in public, and an unsteady gait. These issues have compounded existing worries following an incident in October when Trump misrepresented a cognitive assessment as a “very hard IQ test,” claiming he scored perfectly. Medical experts noted that the assessment was likely the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), a standard tool used to identify early signs of dementia, rather than an intelligence measure.

As public anxiety grows, calls for the invocation of the 25th Amendment have increased among critics who allege that Trump’s mental decline renders him unfit for office. Despite the rising scrutiny, the White House has maintained its stance on the president’s health. In a memo from Sean Barbabella, the White House physician, released in April 2025, it was stated that Trump “exhibits excellent cognitive and physical health and is fully fit to execute the duties of the Commander-in-Chief and Head of State.” A follow-up in October reiterated his “exceptional neurological and physical performance,” confirming he had again scored perfectly on the cognitive screening.

Leavitt has pledged that the administration will release medical information “as soon as possible,” but no official statement has addressed the clapping incident or the verbal confusion from the recent event.

At 79, President Trump remains a focal point of public scrutiny concerning his health. While clinical experts caution that word confusion and motor hesitation can indicate early cognitive decline, they also emphasize that a full neurological assessment is necessary for a definitive evaluation. The ongoing debate surrounding Trump’s cognitive health continues to gain momentum, fueled by viral videos and the lack of a direct response from the White House.