Donald Trump used to be the loudest person in American politics. Now, he seems to be struggling to keep things together. Watching him speak in 2024 is like watching someone who has forgotten what they wanted to say. The situation is both strange and worrying.
Cultural critic and author Lee Siegel argues that Trump’s mental acuity should be scrutinized with the same intensity that the media applied to President Joe Biden earlier this year. Writing for The New Statesman, Siegel highlights several instances that suggest Trump is experiencing an “alarming cognitive decline,” urging the media to address these concerns more vigorously.
Siegel is right. The media focused on every mistake Biden made. But now, Trump is making more mistakes, and people aren’t talking about it enough. Trump is 78 years old, and some of the things he says and does make it seem like he might be losing his touch. For example, he recently mixed up two important awards. He confused the Medal of Honor, which is given to soldiers for bravery, with the Presidential Medal of Freedom, which is given to civilians. Trump even said that the Medal of Honor is who are “either in very bad shape because they’ve been hit so many times by bullets, or they’re dead.” If Biden had said this, there would have been a huge uproar. But with Trump, it’s just another day.
Siegel points out that if Biden had made such an error, it would have ignited a significant media uproar. However, Trump’s troubling lapses seem to be brushed off as just another day. This disparity in media coverage is a central concern for Siegel, who believes that Trump’s mental state deserves the same level of scrutiny and public discussion.
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This makes us think about what happens when people get older. It’s normal for older people to forget things or to take longer to remember something. But when someone starts confusing important details or saying things that don’t make sense, it could be a sign of something more serious. Some people worry that Trump’s recent behavior might be a sign of dimentia. This is when the brain has trouble working properly, and it can affect how someone talks, thinks, and acts.
Trump has always been known for his loud speeches. But now, his words are starting to sound strange. Recently, he said,
“You can’t walk across the street to get a loaf of bread. You get shot, you get mugged, you get raped, you get whatever it may be.”
The phrase “whatever it may be” sounds odd here. It’s like Trump started saying one thing and then forgot how to finish the sentence. It’s more than just him being dramatic. His words are becoming harder to follow.
Trump’s online behavior is also concerning. He recently shared posts on social media that were not only offensive but also weird. He posted a picture of Kamala Harris in an orange prison jumpsuit and suggested that she got her job by doing immoral things. This kind of behavior is not what you’d expect from someone who wants to be president again. It’s more like something you’d see from someone who has lost touch with reality.
Back in 2017, a group of doctors warned that Trump’s inability to accept criticism and his habit of twisting the truth could be signs of deeper problems. But instead of taking these warnings seriously, many people brushed them off. Now, Trump is still making strange statements and it seems to be getting worse.
Despite these alarming signs, the Republican Party continues to stand by Trump, even as evidence mounts that something is seriously wrong. Siegel argues that America deserves a leader who is sharp, clear, and focused—qualities that Trump increasingly seems to lack.
According to Siegel, the media needs to take a hard look at Trump’s recent behavior and treat it with the seriousness it deserves. Recognizing the signs of cognitive decline is crucial before it’s too late, and Siegel believes that ignoring these signs in Trump’s case could have serious consequences.
Featured image via Political Tribune Gallery
