President says he’s in “excellent health” — and the White House doctor agrees.
But behind the scenes, a prominent Republican advisor is raising red flags, claiming Donald Trump may be showing signs of mental decline serious enough to stop him from finishing another term.
Remember all the buzz back in April after Donald Trump’s much-talked-about health checkup?
According to Dr. Sean Barbabella, Trump shows “robust cardiac, pulmonary, neurological and general physical function,” adding that “his active lifestyle continues to contribute significantly to his well-being.”
The exam involved 14 specialists and included a neurological screening that looked at Trump’s reflexes, motor skills, sensory responses, mental state, and even mood indicators like depression and anxiety.
Now 78, Trump remains the oldest person to ever be sworn in as president — and unlike many in politics, he doesn’t smoke or drink. The report also noted that he stands at 6’3” and weighs just over 220 pounds, meaning he’s shed about 25 pounds since his last term in office. His cholesterol levels have improved too, according to the Associated Press.
Aside from some minor sun damage and scarring on his right ear — a reminder of the assassination attempt during his July 2024 rally in Butler, Pennsylvania — doctors say there’s nothing to worry about.
Urging Americans to pay close attention
But if you ask Rick Wilson, co-founder of the Lincoln Project, there’s plenty to be concerned about. In an exclusive interview with Times Radio, Wilson voiced serious worries about Donald Trump’s health, pointing to recent behavior that he believes could signal cognitive decline.
Now, he’s urging Americans to pay closer attention.
“He is incoherent,” Wilson told Times Radio. “His inability to articulate any thought or position without constant asides, constant lapses, the verbal aphasias he is experiencing at various points.”
Wilson has tracked Trump closely since 2015, and believes the former president is showing clear signs of decline.
“I can tell you the man you’re watching today is not the Trump of 2015, nor is he the Trump of 2020,” he continued. “He’s not even the Trump of 2024.”
When it comes to Trump potentially finishing another term, Wilson didn’t hold back:
“Whether he makes it through four years is an open question.”
Despite recent medical reports clearing Trump physically and mentally, Wilson remains skeptical. He warns that test results don’t always reveal what’s happening day-to-day.
“Many professionals see behaviors that resemble early dementia or cognitive decline,” he said.
Wilson also stressed that passing cognitive screenings doesn’t rule out age-related issues:
“The ravages of age and ill health could still be catching up with the 78-year-old president.”
Trump’s April 2025 health report may have eased some critics, but for Wilson, it raised more questions than answers.
Veteran journalist Timothy L. O’Brien shared similar concerns on MSNBC’s The Weekend: Primetime. He said Trump is “haunted” by the cognitive decline his father experienced and that Trump’s talk of a third term is driven by “self-aggrandizement or self-preservation.” O’Brien doubts Trump will actually pursue another term.
Notably, Trump’s April report marked a shift from his usual vague health updates during the 2016 and 2020 campaigns. This time, the report was more detailed—likely a strategic move under pressure to release a full medical record.
Instead of new tests, Trump relied on past letters from physicians like Dr. Ronny Jackson. One note from Dr. Bruce Aronwald, dated November 20, 2023, called Trump’s health “excellent” as of September 2023, but didn’t include test results or specifics.
In October 2024, Trump’s campaign communications director Steven Cheung defended withholding full health details:
“President Trump has voluntarily released updates from his personal physician and Dr. Ronny Jackson, who treated him after the assassination attempt. All confirm he is in excellent health to be Commander in Chief.”
Cheung also criticized Trump’s opponent, Kamala Harris:
“Trump has maintained an intense, historic campaign schedule, while Harris has struggled to keep up.”
The campaign circulated Trump’s 2018 cognitive screening from his first term—a key document for his allies amid mental fitness questions. But no other cognitive tests were made public between 2018 and 2025.
Dr. Jackson, who served under both Obama and Trump, remained a staunch defender of Trump’s health.
The real question isn’t whether Trump can pass a test—it’s whether those tests show the whole picture. According to Wilson, signs of decline are visible for all to see.
