Concerns over Donald Trump’s health are once again flaring up — but this time, the warnings are louder, more specific, and coming from seasoned professionals in the mental health field.
Two prominent psychologists, John Gartner and Harry Segal, are raising urgent questions about the president’s health, warning that his recent behavior points to more than just aging — and accusing those around him of covering it up.
On their podcast Shrinking Trump, the psychologists delivered a blunt assessment: Trump, now 79, is showing what they believe are signs of early-stage dementia — and possibly more.
“They’re obviously hiding the more serious problem,” Gartner said, referring to recent bruising spotted on Trump’s hands. “He’s probably getting some kind of IV fluids.”
Gartner, a former professor at Johns Hopkins University Medical School, and Segal, a Cornell University psychologist, pointed to a pattern of visible health issues — and public incidents — that suggest a significant decline.
One of the most glaring examples, according to Gartner, is Trump’s tendency to fall asleep during major events.
“You’re at the finals of the U.S. Open, a riveting performance… you’re the center of attention,” Gartner said. “So how does Trump react? Oh, he’s asleep again, just like he slept through most of the days of his criminal trial.”
To the psychologists, this isn’t just about dozing off. It’s part of a troubling pattern — one that includes physical symptoms like swelling, unexplained bruises, and, most strikingly, facial drooping.
“Congestive heart failure is what typically causes swelling, you know, largely swollen ankles,” Segal said. “I think he’s not, I mean, he’s not doing well.”
But it was Trump’s appearance at a 9/11 memorial event that sparked particular concern. In footage from the day, one side of his face appeared to droop.
“When you see someone with half their face drooping like that, that’s not just someone being tired, that’s not a normal face,” Segal explained. “It’s significant, and that’s why I’m showing it, not just to make fun of him or to joke.”
Despite the alarming observations, Trump’s team is pushing back hard. His former White House doctor, Rep. Ronny Jackson — now a loyal political ally — issued a statement insisting, “President Donald J. Trump is the healthiest president this nation has ever seen. He is mentally and physically sharper than ever before.”
But the public isn’t buying it.
Following a sudden four-day absence from public view, Google searches for “Is Trump dead?” spiked, with “Trump is dead” briefly trending on social media platforms. The speculation reflects a growing distrust in official statements — and a heightened concern about what’s going on behind the scenes.
For Gartner and Segal, something is wrong, and it’s being kept from the public. Their warning is as much about transparency as it is about health.
This isn’t about political attacks, they argue — it’s about the cognitive and physical fitness of a man seeking to return to the most powerful office in the world.
And from their view, “he’s not doing well.”
