Donald Trump’s frequent boasting about passing a basic cognitive test may potentially be a sign of something much more serious, according to two clinical psychologists raising the alarm.
Drs. John Gartner and Harry Segal claim that the former president is clinging to a minor achievement to reassure himself that he is not losing control and that he is exhibiting symptoms of some sort of cognitive impairment.
Where are we? Trump’s dementia is clearly visible. Despite being sitting at the table immediately across from Trump, he is unable to locate the Finnish president. Where is the inquiry into Jake Tapper?Picture: pic.twitter.com/14907CAC5j
August 19, 2025 Mike Sington (@MikeSington)
Trump has boasted for a long time about acing the test, assuring both his supporters and detractors that he received the best score possible on what he describes as a challenging exam. In one of his recent Truth Social tirades, he attacked Rep. Jasmine Crockett and demanded that these Radical Left maniacs take the same test, mocking opponents by implying they could never pass such a test. He maintained that physicians at the military hospital in Washington, D.C., commended his performance as exceptional. The test has turned into a tool for Trump to use against his detractors and a testament to his own intelligence.
However, the psychologists contend that this test-obsession is not a sign of strength, as Trump portrays it. Segal clarified that the test is merely a screening instrument utilized in nursing homes or hospitals. It is not intended to demonstrate intellectual prowess, but rather to rule out evident dementia.
The exercises, which include sketching a clock, identifying a lion, and reciting a brief series of numbers, are not intended to be challenging. Segal stated on the Shrinking Trump podcast that anyone can ace it and that Trump’s obsession might be the result of a subconscious realization that he is not as intelligent as he once was. According to Segal, Trump keeps reciting the tale of his purported victory to convince himself that he is the genius he wants people to think he is.
Gartner concurs, citing what he perceives to be a trend in Trump’s actions. Trump doubles down in the opposite way when he feels especially exposed or guilty. According to Gartner, he rejects it louder and more frequently the more egregiously guilty he is. According to that reasoning, Trump’s incessant boasting about his intelligence may be a front for a deeper concern that he is deteriorating.
The psychologists emphasized that simply passing the test does not constitute any kind of accomplishment. If someone fails it, it is merely a warning sign and does not rule out early dementia. Superior mental fitness is not demonstrated by merely being able to finish the workouts.
The White House has often insisted that Trump is in good health in spite of these cautions. In April, Trump’s physician, Captain Sean Barbabella, emphasized his outstanding physical and mental health and said he is perfectly capable of carrying out the responsibilities of the presidency. This official stance contradicts the worries expressed by Segal and Gartner, who maintain that Trump’s actions indicate differently.
DEMENTIA ALERT: Trump is mentally ill; he claims to be traveling to Russia to visit Putin, but in reality, he is meeting him in Alaska, or he believes he is traveling back in time to a time when Alaska was a part of Russia.tweet.com/b3q8mgiEIr
August 11, 2025, Tom Joseph (@TomJChicago)
Trump’s recent political acts have also been linked by the psychologists to what they characterize as authoritarian tendencies. Trump’s plan to proclaim a crime emergency in Washington, D.C., and send out National Guard troops while taking over the city’s police department was specifically attacked by Gartner. He called Trump’s actions “characteristics of dictatorial behavior” and accused him of fabricating emergencies to support his power expansion. In addition, he criticized the administration’s intentions to control the Smithsonian’s displays ahead of America’s 250th anniversary, stating that doing so would be tantamount to rewriting history.
“Every dictator rewrites history,” Gartner added, describing the action as extremely risky. Although the Smithsonian admitted receiving the administration’s request, it has retaliated, claiming that accuracy and scholarly research dictate its work.
