Donald Trump has been facing fresh criticism about his mental sharpness since returning to the White House. Although he often claims to be in great health and insists he’s fit for office, not everyone agrees. A communication expert recently shared a different view, raising concerns about how Trump speaks and behaves in public.
Since Joe Biden revealed he has cancer, many Trump supporters have used the news to argue that Biden was unfit to lead, both mentally and physically. But now, some are turning the same question back toward Trump.
Trump has continued to praise his own intelligence, leadership, and team. He also frequently attacks former presidents and goes off-topic during speeches. At rallies or when speaking to reporters, his thoughts often jump from one subject to another without clear connection. This pattern has raised concerns for Dr. Jennifer R. Mercieca, a communication professor at Texas A&M University and author who has studied Trump’s rhetoric.
She told the Daily Beast that Trump’s speeches suggest a deeper issue. According to her, his constant digressions and inability to stay on topic make him appear mentally unfocused. She believes this reflects possible cognitive decline, where he struggles to think clearly or finish a full train of thought. Mercieca added that while Trump likes to promote himself as someone who speaks his mind and avoids teleprompters, it actually makes his public speaking hard to follow. He seems to randomly connect unrelated ideas, which can be confusing to listeners.
Even so, Trump’s doctor, Sean Barbabella, strongly disagrees with that view. He said the former president is in excellent physical and mental shape. Barbabella noted that Trump scored a perfect 30 out of 30 on the Montreal Cognitive Assessment, a common test used to check for memory and thinking problems. According to the doctor, Trump is fully fit to carry out his responsibilities as president.
Trump has also defended the way he speaks. Back in December, he said that his so-called rambling is not a sign of confusion, but a technique. He claimed that he deliberately jumps between points to keep things interesting, and always returns to the main topic. He calls this method “the weave,” and says it’s his own style of communication. Trump even argued that rhetorical experts approve of it.
However, Dr. Mercieca disagrees with that claim. She says it’s not a good communication strategy at all. Instead of showing skill, she believes it reveals a lack of control and discipline. In her view, Trump’s unpredictable and wandering speech pattern is a red flag, not a clever technique.
So while Trump continues to dismiss the criticism and insists he’s at the top of his game, experts like Mercieca are raising serious questions about what his words and behavior might really say about his mental fitness.
