Donald Trump is reportedly “haunted” by the fear of suffering from dementia, a condition that affected his father, Fred Trump. This concern was highlighted during a segment on MSNBC’s The Weekend: Primetime, where Timothy L. O’Brien, senior executive editor at Bloomberg Opinion, discussed Trump’s comments on seeking a third term in office, despite the U.S. Constitution prohibiting it.
O’Brien, who has observed Trump for many years, suggested that while Trump may desire to stay in power indefinitely, his health, particularly his fear of cognitive decline, could be a significant barrier. “He’d love to live until he’s 300,” O’Brien joked, adding, “And he’d probably like to be president for 200 of those years.” However, at 78 years old, Trump is acutely aware of the passage of time.
Donald Trump. Credit / Getty Images
Trump’s health concerns are not just about his age, but the prospect of following in his father’s footsteps. O’Brien explained that Trump lives in fear of developing the same dementia and Alzheimer’s disease that his father, Fred Trump, experienced. Fred Trump, a successful real estate developer, passed away in 1999 after battling Alzheimer’s for several years. He was first diagnosed with dementia in 1991 but continued to work until his health significantly declined.
Although Trump rarely addresses his own fears publicly—likely due to the political risks of acknowledging concerns about mental health—those close to him have noted visible signs of cognitive decline. O’Brien observed changes in Trump’s speech, posture, and energy, pointing out that he seems less enthusiastic and more fatigued than in his earlier years. “The speech is more slurred, the posture is slouched, the energy seems drained,” he said.
Trump’s nephew, Fred C. Trump III, also shared his observations of his uncle’s decline. In an interview with People, Fred, 61, remarked that he had noticed similarities between his uncle’s mental shifts and how his grandfather, Fred Trump, declined. “Anyone claiming dementia isn’t in the Trump family is ignoring the truth,” Fred C. Trump III stated.
Credit: Tasos Katopodis / Getty.
The impact of Fred Trump’s dementia on his son, Donald Trump, appears to have left a lasting impression, fueling the current fears that may shape Trump’s decisions and public persona moving forward. As he continues to face political challenges and scrutiny, it remains to be seen how these health concerns will influence his future actions and legacy.
