The Daily Beast Podcast Trump’s Failing Health Can't Be Ignored: Doctors
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Dec 29, 2025 Dr. John Gartner, a clinical psychologist focused on personality disorders, delves into Donald Trump's troubling mental and physical health. He highlights alarming signs such as deteriorating language, impaired impulse control, and physical gait changes that suggest possible dementia. Gartner draws parallels between Trump’s behavior and historical dictators, warning of the implications for American democracy. He questions media bias in scrutinizing public figures and argues that Trump's cognitive decline poses a significant risk for impulsive decisions.
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Language Decline Signals Organic Cognitive Loss
- John D. Gartner argues Trump's language deterioration shows organic cognitive decline, not mere fatigue or aging.
- He cites phonemic paraphasias and tangential speech as clinical signs consistent with dementia.
Personality Disorder Amplifies Decline Risks
- Gartner explains malignant narcissism predates cognitive decline and makes Trump more dangerous and untreatable.
- The combination of personality disorder plus deterioration worsens impulsivity and judgment.
Early Cruelty Illustrates Lifelong Disorder
- Gartner recounts childhood stories and long-standing cruelty as evidence personality disorder is lifelong.
- He uses an anecdote about Trump throwing rocks at babies to illustrate early malignant behavior.