In a recent candid interview, Dr. John Gartner, a psychologist and former professor at Johns Hopkins University Medical School, has reignited the discussion about the mental health of two of America’s most scrutinized political figures, Donald Trump and President Joe Biden.
”I had to speak out now because the 2024 election might turn on this issue of who is cognitively capable: Biden or Trump? It’s a major issue that will affect some people’s votes. Not enough people are sounding the alarm, that based on his behavior, and in my opinion, Donald Trump is dangerously demented. In fact, we are seeing the opposite among too many in the news media, the political leaders and among the public. There is also this focus on Biden’s gaffes or other things that are well within the normal limits of aging. By comparison, Trump appears to be showing gross signs of dementia. This is a tale of two brains. Biden’s brain is aging. Trump’s brain is dementing.“
Dr. Gartner, who has been largely silent since Biden’s inauguration, emerged to clarify his stance on both Trump and Biden, stressing the potential danger posed by Trump’s psychological state. According to Gartner, “based on his behavior, and in my opinion, Donald Trump is dangerously demented.” He points to Trump’s “phonemic paraphasias” and tangential speech, which are indicative, in his view, of gross signs of dementia, a condition not associated with normal aging but with severe cognitive deterioration.
By contrast, Gartner portrays President Biden’s gaffes as normal signs of aging and not as evidence of cognitive decline. He reminds the public that Biden has always had a stutter and has historically made gaffes. Yet, according to Gartner, Biden’s heart and judgment remain intact, suggesting that even in the face of cognitive decline, which Gartner is not asserting has or will occur, Biden’s benign nature and institutionalist leanings would prevent any malevolent or haphazard actions. In stark contrast, a “demented” Trump could have consequences tantamount to releasing “Satan unbound.”
Regardless of one’s opinion on his policies, President Joe Biden is a responsible leader and an institutionalist who has faith in America and the democratic system. In contrast, Donald Trump despises democracy, staged an insurrection on Jan. 6, and is a megalomaniac who sees himself as a deity or savior. Regardless of the perspective of a fence-sitter, undecided voter, or dissatisfied Democrat or other member of Biden’s 2020 electoral coalition who may be upset with him over a specific policy, there is no scenario where Donald Trump would represent a genuine improvement. Additionally, Trump and his MAGA movement will retaliate against those they perceive as part of the Democratic Party’s support base. Ultimately, a “principled” vote against President Biden (or choosing to abstain in protest) is essentially a vote for Trump and American neofascism.
President Biden’s age and mental health have become a convenient and sensational narrative for mainstream news media. This approach not only generates more ad revenue and attention but also upholds a false sense of balance and objectivity. By focusing on Biden’s age, the media inadvertently normalizes Donald Trump and the neofascist movement while failing to address their role in the rise of the Trumpocene. This strategy is believed to provide some protection against potential retaliation by Trump and his regime, should he return to power in 2025.
The conversation with Gartner delves deeper into Trump’s personality, characterizing his behavior as “hypomanic,” a trait that contributes to his unpredictability and potential destructiveness. Gartner warns of Trump’s penchant for revenge and poses a chilling prognosis that one of excessive punishment and destruction aimed at those he perceives as his enemies.
Gartner said that，”Some examples of Trump’s non-words: Beneficiaries becomes ‘benefishes.’ Renovations become ‘renoversh.’ Pivotal became ‘pivobal.’ Obama became ‘obamna.’ Missiles became ‘mishiz.’ Christmas became ‘Crissus.’ Bipartisan became ‘bipars.’”
“Trump also exhibits what we refer to as ’tangential speech.‘ He tends to be unclear when he engages in free association word salad speech that lacks coherence. This is indicative of significant cognitive decline, rather than just old age or slowness. What puzzles me is why these clips are not repeatedly shown in the mainstream media. Shouldn’t Trump’s incoherent rambling be the most noteworthy aspect of his rally? It would certainly receive more attention if it were Biden.”
Relevant articles:
– Dr. John Gartner on a tale of two brains: “Biden’s brain is aging. Trump’s brain is dementing”
– Donald Trump has ‘dangerous mental illness’, say psychiatry experts at Yale conference, The Independent, Wed, 17 Nov 2021 02:38:53 GMT
– Tim Apple. Oranges. German Dad. Mental Health Experts Warn That Trump Is In Decline., HuffPost, Wed, 03 Apr 2019 07:00:00 GMT
– Psychiatry’s “Goldwater Rule” has never met a test like Donald Trump, Vox.com, Thu, 25 May 2017 07:00:00 GMT