Ty Cobb, who once served as a White House lawyer under Donald Trump, said Tuesday night that the president is showing a clear decline in cognitive ability, speaking candidly on MSNBC with Ari Melber as Trump marks one year into his second term.
“No, I think there’s been a significant decline,” Cobb said. “He’s always been driven by narcissism. But I think the dementia and the cognitive decline are, you know, palpable, as do many experts, including many physicians.”
The comments came just hours after Trump delivered a disorderly White House press briefing marking one year into his second term, veering from boasts about his record to attacks on immigrants in Minnesota, Greenland digressions, and open hostility toward critics.
Cobb said the presidency under Trump has lost its basic safeguards.
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“The guardrails are stressed,” he said, warning that institutions meant to restrain presidential power are being pushed to their limits.
He pointed to the courts as one of the few remaining checks, praising Trump-appointed judges who are willing to stand up to the administration. Cobb said judges are trying to keep the law intact even as Congress fails to act.
“Which is why it’s so sad that Congress, as the most powerful of the constitutional entities set up by our founders, has abdicated its responsibility and been neutered by Republican cowardice,” he said.
The discussion turned to Trump’s recent letter to Norway and his renewed fixation on acquiring Greenland. Cobb was blunt about how Trump is viewed beyond US borders.
“I don’t think there’s anybody outside of the United States who believes that Trump is sane,” Cobb said. He added that many people within US intelligence circles share that view.
When Melber asked what he meant by sane, Cobb clarified that he was talking about competence. He compared Trump’s behavior to age-related decline previously seen in President Joe Biden, but said Trump’s case is different.
“You know what he said yesterday to the leaders of Norway about disregarding peace since he didn’t get the Nobel Peace Prize,” Cobb said, pointing to Trump’s repeated complaints that he was denied the award.
Cobb also referenced Trump’s habit of posting memes of himself planting US flags in Greenland and Canada, and his repeated claims that NATO is an enemy.
“That’s so un American and so crazy that I think people, understandably, are very concerned,” Cobb said.
He added that the concern is not limited to political opponents.
“I think there is a very, very serious concern around the world and a growing concern within the country,” Cobb said.
Trump has dismissed all questions about his mental state. Earlier this month, he claimed on Truth Social that he was in “perfect health” and said he “‘ACED’ (Meaning, was correct on 100% of the questions asked!), for the third straight time, my Cognitive Examination.”
Watch the full remarks from Ty Cobb on Trump’s cognitive decline below:
Featured image via YouTube screengrab
