Optimistic Health Report Contrasts with Growing Concerns
President Trump has publicly asserted that he is in “excellent health,” a view echoed by the White House physician.
Dr. Sean Barbabella, who oversaw Trump’s highly publicized health evaluation in April 2025, described the former president’s physical condition as “robust,” citing strong cardiac, pulmonary, neurological, and overall health.
He credited Trump’s active routine for maintaining his well-being.
The exam, conducted by 14 specialists, included thorough neurological assessments such as reflex testing, motor function checks, mood evaluations, and screenings for anxiety and depression.
At 78, Trump is the oldest individual ever sworn in as president. He neither drinks alcohol nor smokes, and recent medical updates note he now weighs just over 220 pounds—around 25 pounds lighter than during his last term.
His cholesterol numbers have reportedly improved, and aside from some sun-related skin damage and a scar on his right ear from the 2024 rally assassination attempt, doctors expressed no major concerns.
Rick Wilson Sounds the Alarm on Cognitive Function
Despite the favorable health report, some observers remain deeply skeptical. Rick Wilson, co-founder of the Lincoln Project, expressed serious doubts during an interview with Times Radio.
He argued that Trump’s public behavior suggests signs of cognitive decline that go beyond what any medical test might capture.
Wilson described Trump as frequently incoherent, prone to tangents, and displaying symptoms of verbal confusion—factors he believes reflect deteriorating mental acuity.
Having followed Trump since 2015, Wilson emphasized that the version of Trump appearing in 2025 is markedly different from previous years.
He questioned whether the former president is truly capable of serving another full term, saying, “Whether he makes it through four years is an open question.”
He also pointed out that passing a cognitive screening doesn’t necessarily indicate someone is free from the effects of aging.
According to Wilson, many experts observing Trump’s public behavior recognize patterns often associated with early dementia or cognitive decline.
Long-Term Worries and Strategic Disclosures
Veteran journalist Timothy L. O’Brien added to these concerns during a segment on MSNBC’s The Weekend: Primetime.
O’Brien noted that Trump has long feared experiencing the mental deterioration that afflicted his father, Fred Trump.
He suggested that Trump’s recent comments about serving beyond two terms might reflect more of a personal obsession with legacy or control than an actual political plan.
“He’s driven by either self-aggrandizement or self-preservation,” O’Brien explained, though he doubts Trump will make a serious effort to stay in office longer.
The detailed health report released in April 2025 marks a departure from Trump’s past campaigns, where health updates were vague or overly flattering.
Throughout the 2024 election cycle, he was pressed to provide comprehensive medical records, but he initially relied on general letters from his doctors, including Dr. Ronny Jackson.
A letter from Dr. Bruce Aronwald in November 2023 claimed Trump was in “excellent” condition but lacked specifics or test data.
In response to criticism, campaign spokesperson Steven Cheung insisted Trump has consistently released appropriate updates and maintained an unusually rigorous schedule.
He contrasted this with Kamala Harris’s campaign pace, implying she lacked the stamina to match Trump.
The campaign also reused Trump’s 2018 cognitive test results from his first term, though no recent cognitive assessments have been made public since then.
For critics like Rick Wilson, the issue isn’t whether Trump can pass medical exams—it’s whether his real-time behavior reflects a deeper, unacknowledged decline. As Wilson sees it, the public is already witnessing the symptoms firsthand.
