REUTERS/Brendan McDermid
With less than thirty days until Americans head to the polls to elect their next president, political observers are increasingly alarmed over Donald Trump’s erratic behavior and deteriorating coherence during his rallies. These concerns are raising questions about his mental fitness, with critics suggesting that his “incoherence” is escalating and may reflect a deeper issue as the former president campaigns for a return to the White House.
In interviews conducted by The Guardian’s David Smith, analysts are sounding the alarm that Trump, now 78, is displaying signs of cognitive decline. Some have described his current state as a potential “final meltdown.” Smith noted that Trump’s frequent slurring and rambling have become more prominent, leading to fears that the former president is struggling to maintain control over his thoughts and messaging.
Allan Lichtman, a history professor at American University, pointed to Trump’s increasingly erratic behavior as indicative of deeper issues. “He’s definitely more undisciplined, unhinged, and deranged,” Lichtman commented. “He’s always had these tendencies but, as he’s gotten older, they’ve become much greater. The Hannibal Lecter stuff or the shark versus electrocution stuff is just insane, just crazy, and should be discussed on that basis.”
He further emphasized that the focus should not solely be on Trump’s mental state. “But it’s a big mistake just to talk about Trump being unhinged or insane. You’ve got to talk about also how dangerous and retrograde what he’s saying is. We also ought to stress the extreme racism and misogyny.”
Smith’s analysis pointed to examples of Trump’s cognitive decline, explaining that Trump “increasingly slurs or stumbles over his words, raising fears over cognitive decline. He is slipping in polls against Kamala Harris and knows that defeat could lead to criminal trials and even prison.” Citing a recent Associated Press report, Smith added that during a recent rally, “Trump shifted from topic to topic so quickly that it was hard to keep track of what he meant at times.”
Elaine Kamarck, a senior fellow at the Brookings Institute, shared similar concerns, stating, “He has definitely lost a step, as they say. He is less coherent than he was certainly four years ago.” Kamarck went on to compare Trump’s speech at rallies to a frustrated student, saying, “He reminds you of a sixth-grade boy having read something out loud at the front of the class who’s generally pissed off that he’s there and not on the soccer field.” told by Raw Story.
Meanwhile, former Republican and outspoken Trump critic Tara Setmayer raised concerns about the broader implications of Trump’s rhetoric. “We’re being tested, and our democracy is on the line because what Donald Trump is saying is not just crazy battery. It’s dangerous. It’s authoritarian. It’s anti-democratic,” she warned. Setmayer also emphasized the stakes for the American people, urging voters to consider the long-term future.
“In Trump’s mind, we’re not all equal, and American voters need to make a decision about the type of country they want to live in and what kind of future they want to leave for their children.” As election day approaches, Trump’s behavior is becoming an increasing focal point for both his critics and political observers who worry about the implications of his potential return to the presidency.
