President Donald Trump continues to insist he’s in “excellent health,” and his official medical team echoes that claim. But behind closed doors and outside of polished White House reports, growing whispers are casting doubt on the 78-year-old president’s fitness—not just physically, but mentally. According to a top advisor and several political critics, a serious decline could force him out of office earlier than expected.
In April, Trump underwent a comprehensive health evaluation involving 14 specialists. Dr. Sean Barbabella led the review, praising the former president’s cardiac health, lung function, mobility, mood, and reflexes. He reported no neurological impairment and even noted Trump’s recent weight loss and improved cholesterol. The report also acknowledged lingering sun damage on Trump’s face, a remnant of the July 2024 assassination attempt in Butler, Pennsylvania. On paper, everything appeared fine.
But not everyone is buying it.
Rick Wilson, co-founder of The Lincoln Project and longtime conservative strategist, voiced sharp concerns in a Times Radio interview. He said Trump’s public behavior tells a very different story. “He rambles, he loses track of thoughts, he forgets where he is,” Wilson said. “This isn’t the same Trump from 2015 or even 2020. He’s visibly deteriorated.”
Wilson argued that cognitive test scores and clean lab results don’t reflect what Americans are seeing live: unscripted moments where Trump appears confused or incoherent. The real danger, according to Wilson, is not in the test numbers—but in the performances the president can’t control.
Journalist Timothy L. O’Brien added a personal layer to the speculation. In an MSNBC interview, he shared that Trump has long feared developing Alzheimer’s, the same disease that ravaged his father Fred Trump. That fear, O’Brien claimed, may be driving Trump’s defensive posturing and obsessive image control. “It’s not just about politics—it’s deeply personal,” O’Brien said.
This election cycle, Trump’s team has offered more transparency in his health reporting than in past campaigns. Unlike the vague doctor’s notes from 2016 and 2020, the 2025 report included lab results and assessments across multiple systems. Campaign director Steven Cheung used the results to criticize political rivals, claiming Trump’s stamina far outpaced that of Democratic challenger Kamala Harris.
Still, critics say test scores miss the most important signs of decline. “You can’t measure delusion or disconnection in a blood panel,” Wilson said. “You need to watch, to listen, to pay attention to behavior—and what we’re seeing is troubling.”
Though Trump’s doctors insist he’s capable of serving another term, former allies and insiders remain unconvinced. As the 2026 election approaches, the divide between official assessments and public perception is growing. On paper, Trump may be healthy—but many are wondering how long he can keep up the act.