There’s growing concern and public discussion about both Joe Biden and Donald Trump’s mental health as they continue to dominate American politics. People are questioning whether either man is mentally fit to lead the country, especially given their age—Biden is 82, and Trump was the oldest person ever inaugurated when he took office at 78.
Recently, Trump and his team have been calling for an investigation into Biden’s mental health, suggesting that he may have hidden signs of mental decline during his presidency. But now, attention is turning toward Trump himself. Critics, including experts in how people speak and communicate, are raising alarms about how Trump talks during speeches and public appearances.
Dr. Jennifer Mercieca, a professor at Texas A\&M who studies how political leaders speak, has noticed that Trump often jumps from one topic to another without clear connections. She said this makes it seem like he can’t stick to a single train of thought and struggles to express ideas clearly, which can be a sign of mental decline. She also noted that while Trump says he’s just being unscripted and authentic, it actually makes it really hard for people to follow what he’s saying.
Despite these concerns, Trump’s doctor gave him a glowing health report after his last physical in April. According to the doctor, Trump is in excellent shape physically and mentally, scoring a perfect 30 out of 30 on a standard cognitive test. The report also said Trump stays very active, regularly attending meetings, making public appearances, and even winning golf games.
But the way Trump speaks in public continues to raise eyebrows. In recent speeches, he’s made sudden jumps between topics, repeated old talking points, and brought up strange comparisons—like saying he’s been investigated more than the infamous gangster Al Capone. He’s also gone off-topic to talk about unrelated things like drag shows and banning transgender athletes. At one point, he even advised young graduates not to marry “trophy wives,” which left many people confused.
When asked about his often confusing speech patterns, Trump insisted there’s a method behind the madness. He calls his style “the weave,” claiming that he talks about many different things but always brings them together in the end. He says it’s a creative and brilliant approach and that even English professors have praised it. But experts like Dr. Mercieca disagree. She says it’s not an effective way to communicate and actually shows a lack of control and discipline. She believes that calling it “the weave” is just Trump’s way of trying to excuse behavior that worries many people.
Trump’s team has pushed back hard against these criticisms. A White House spokesperson dismissed Dr. Mercieca’s analysis as biased and claimed Trump is the most transparent and mentally sharp president ever. Still, public opinion tells a different story. A recent YouGov/Economist poll showed that nearly half of Americans don’t think Trump has been honest about his health. About a third of the people surveyed said they think his age and health issues make it hard for him to do his job properly.
In short, while Trump insists he’s healthy and sharp, a lot of people—experts and everyday Americans alike—aren’t so sure. The way he speaks, the things he says, and how he says them are making more people wonder whether he, like Biden, might be dealing with cognitive challenges as he seeks to lead the country again.
