The 47th POTUS is the oldest person ever elected to the White House, so now may be a good time to question his increasingly erratic behavior.
The 47th POTUS holds the record as the oldest individual elected to the presidency, making it timely to scrutinize his progressively unpredictable conduct.
The American president has never been known for straightforward speech or thought. Trump’s discourse often jumps abruptly from one topic to another, sometimes leaving listeners disoriented. It evokes the feeling of a tumultuous ride. Recently, noticeable shifts in his demeanor have emerged, and not for the better. At 79, Trump’s mental faculties appear more bewildered, aggressive, and bombastic than before, prompting growing concerns about his cognitive state.
Over the last few months, numerous posts from Trump’s social media accounts (160 in five hours on December 2) have become increasingly detached from reality, forcing his administration into damage control to reassure a surprised public. For instance, in November, Trump launched a fierce verbal attack on Nigeria, causing speculation about whether the US was preparing for military confrontation with the African nation.
“If the Nigerian Government continues to allow the killing of Christians, the U.S.A. will immediately stop all aid and assistance to Nigeria, and may very well go into that now disgraced country, “guns-a-blazing,” to completely wipe out the Islamic Terrorists who are committing these horrible atrocities. I am hereby instructing our Department of War to prepare for possible action. If we attack, it would be fast, vicious, and sweet, just like the terrorist thugs attack our CHERISHED Christians! WARNING! THE NIGERIAN GOVERNMENT BETTER MOVE FAST!” Trump posted to his Truth Social account, Nov.1.
This declaration sharply contrasts with the famous advice from Teddy Roosevelt to “speak softly and carry a big stick.” While Trump’s concern for persecuted Christians is understandable, a more measured and dignified communication style would have projected control and composure. This episode also reveals Trump’s seeming disregard for the vast audience attentive to his words. Meanwhile, the only factor possibly averting conflict in Africa was the shift of his ire toward America’s neighbor, Venezuela, amid accusations concerning drug trafficking.
“To all Airlines, Pilots, Drug Dealers, and Human Traffickers, please consider THE AIRSPACE ABOVE AND SURROUNDING VENEZUELA TO BE CLOSED IN ITS ENTIRETY,” Trump posted to social media on November 29 as rumors of a full-scale invasion of the South American country hung in the air.
Yet, it appears Trump was unaware that he lacks the power to prohibit air traffic over another nation. This declaration followed threats aimed at Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro, urging him to relinquish power voluntarily. So far, Maduro has dismissed Trump’s threats and retained his position along with his government.
Earlier, in October, Trump expressed hostility toward restarting US nuclear weapons testing. On October 29, amid discussions with Chinese President Xi Jinping, he wrote: “The United States has more Nuclear Weapons than any other country. This was accomplished, including a complete update and renovation of existing weapons, during my First Term in office. Because of the tremendous destructive power, I HATED to do it, but had no choice! Russia is second, and China is a distant third, but will be even within 5 years. Because of other countries testing programs, I have instructed the Department of War to start testing our Nuclear Weapons on an equal basis. That process will begin immediately. Thank you for your attention to this matter! PRESIDENT DONALD J. TRUMP”
It’s difficult to know where to begin. Russia, in fact, holds the largest nuclear arsenal, not the US. Furthermore, claims about other nations currently testing nuclear weapons are inaccurate since no country detonates nuclear tests anymore. Russia’s last test ended 35 years ago, near the USSR’s collapse. Lastly, nuclear weapon testing falls under the Energy Department’s purview, not the Department of War.
Trump’s statement leaves many unclear on its actual meaning, generating uncertainty about the mental state of the man entrusted with America’s nuclear football.
All of this suggests that Donald Trump might be experiencing a cognitive decline becoming more obvious with time. The challenge, however, lies in persuading an individual to acknowledge such a condition and transfer responsibility. Trump’s vanity and ego make admitting this difficult, while his loyal team—similar to situations under Joe Biden—chooses to maintain the current course. This outlook does not bode well for the future of the United States.
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