Donald Trump has always chosen his own path, but even his critics and supporters alike acknowledge that his unpredictable behavior has escalated—especially online. Now, a leading psychologist has issued a stark warning about the former president, suggesting his actions may reflect a disorder that becomes more severe when paired with dementia.
Trump’s mental health has been widely discussed in recent months, particularly after he underwent an MRI at Walter Reed Medical Center in October.
According to a memo released by White House physician Sean Barbabella, the president received “advanced imaging, laboratory testing, and preventive health assessments.” Later, while speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One on the way to Japan, Trump confirmed he had undergone an MRI.
“We had an MRI — the machine, the whole thing — and it was perfect,” he said. “Nobody has ever given you reports like I gave you. And if I didn’t think it was going to be good, I’d tell you straight. I wouldn’t run. But the doctors said they’d never seen results this good for someone my age.”
Still, several medical professionals have argued that Trump has not been transparent about the purpose of the scan, noting that he appeared unsure which part of his body was examined. Now, another specialist has stepped forward, and his assessment raises further concerns.
During an interview on The Daily Beastpodcast, Dr. John Gartner—a psychologist, author, activist, and former Johns Hopkins professor—claimed that Trump’s increasingly erratic behavior aligns with signs of a personality disorder that is rapidly intensifying due to dementia.
“When people develop dementia, they become exaggerated versions of their worst traits,” Gartner said on the podcast.
The psychologist previously argued that the 79-year-old president’s verbal mistakes, daily confusion, and recurring memory lapses are “clinical signs of dementia.” Gartner believes the condition has deteriorated further because he suspects Trump has underlying “malignant narcissism.”
“Whatever personality problems someone has before dementia becomes worse afterward,” Gartner explained. “They become more crude, more chaotic, more aggressive, and more confused versions of that same disorder.”
