Donald Trump reportedly shocked people around him with a quiet, unsettling comment about his own death, according to a new report. The moment happened at Mar-a-Lago while television screens were showing former President Jimmy Carter’s casket lying in state at the U.S. Capitol. Watching the scene, Trump, who is now 79, allegedly looked at those in the room and said, almost casually, that within ten years, that would be him.
The remark was shared by someone familiar with the situation and appears in a wide-ranging New York Magazine profile that looks closely at Trump’s health, mindset, and how he views himself as president. The article paints a picture of a man who is deeply aware of aging and mortality, even if he rarely talks about it in public. Trump’s press secretary, Karoline Leavitt, told the magazine that she does not remember him making the comment, leaving some uncertainty about the moment. Still, those who heard it say it left an impression.
The story adds a dark and uncomfortable layer to how Trump and his inner circle now talk about the future, especially the year 2028. According to one senior White House official, thoughts about death sometimes creep into conversations about whether Trump would want, or even be physically able, to run for office again when he would be in his early 80s. These discussions are not always direct, but they linger in the background as aides quietly think through different scenarios.
At the same time, Trump has leaned heavily into the idea that staying in power is what keeps him alive. He has often repeated a saying from his father, Fred Trump, that deeply shaped his thinking: “To retire is to expire.” Trump has used this line for years to explain why he never wants to slow down. To him, work is not just a job, it is a defense against aging. Now, the presidency itself has become part of that belief, something he seems to view as keeping him sharp, relevant, and vital.
Trump is already the oldest person ever elected president, yet he continues to talk as if time is not a limit for him. Rather than signaling any plan to step aside, he has teased the idea of running again and even joked about serving beyond what the Constitution allows. He has suggested a third or even a fourth term, which would put him in office well into his mid-80s, despite clear constitutional rules that limit presidents to two terms.
These bold claims stand in sharp contrast to growing concerns about his health. Reports have highlighted visible bruising on his hands, moments where he appears unusually tired in public, and unexplained medical visits, including a mysterious MRI trip to Walter Reed that the White House struggled to clearly explain. Former White House lawyer Ty Cobb has publicly said that Trump’s cognitive decline is noticeable, while a well-known physician pointed out that Trump’s daily high-dose aspirin routine is typically used for patients at serious risk of stroke.
Inside Trump’s inner circle, this has created a strange and almost contradictory reality. On one hand, Trump talks openly, at times, about death, legacy, and what he will leave behind. He dreams aloud about grand projects meant to cement his name in history, from a massive ballroom at the White House to a monument modeled after the Arc de Triomphe, reimagined as the “Arc de Trump.” On the other hand, he continues to present himself as a larger-than-life figure, someone who believes he can outwork younger rivals and outrun time itself.
According to one senior official, conversations about who might succeed Trump are not just about preparing for the future. They are also about keeping his influence alive long after he is gone, allowing him to live on through handpicked heirs and loyal followers. In that sense, succession planning becomes less about accepting mortality and more about denying it.
The White House has been contacted for comment, but for now, the picture that emerges is of a president caught between two worlds: one where he quietly acknowledges the reality of death, and another where he insists he is almost superhuman, determined to keep going no matter the cost.
