The Further Unraveling of Donald Trump
The Unraveling of Donald Trump
Donald Trump, once certain of his path to a second term, now faces a stark and unsettling truth: the race he believed was his to win is slipping through his fingers—or may already be lost. For Trump, crowd sizes have always been the ultimate barometer of success. Yet now, he finds himself watching Kamala Harris—poised to become the first Asian American, Black American, and potentially the first female president—surge ahead, drawing the kinds of crowds he dismisses as fabricated or artificially generated.
To Trump, the presidency is more than just a seat of power; it is his ultimate get-out-of-jail-free card, a talisman he clings to in the face of looming legal jeopardy. But as Harris ascends in the polls, that talisman appears to be slipping away. Widely perceived as running to escape the consequences of multiple indictments and recent felony convictions, Trump now seems to confront the unsettling reality that the race he once considered his by right is no longer within his grasp.
This unraveling is not merely a political setback; it exposes deeper mental and cognitive fractures, exacerbated by the relentless pressures of his legal battles. The figure who once projected unyielding power now appears increasingly adrift, both mentally and politically.
The Long Campaign Against Biden
Trump’s fixation on Joe Biden began long before the 2020 election, crystallizing during his first impeachment. This obsession took shape with the now-infamous July 2019 phone call to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, where Trump attempted to leverage U.S. military aid to coerce Zelensky into launching an investigation into Biden and his son, Hunter. The episode marked an unprecedented use of foreign policy for personal gain, revealing Trump’s willingness to compromise national security in pursuit of electoral advantage.
In December 2019, the House of Representatives impeached Trump for abusing his power and obstructing Congress, with this incident at the center of the charges. The impeachment laid bare a troubling pattern: a president prepared to exploit the highest office to sabotage his political opponents. This moment set the stage for Trump’s relentless campaign against Biden.
The Shocking Turn of Events
In July 2024, during the Republican National Convention, Trump and his team were buoyed by a palpable sense of impending victory. Biden’s faltering debate performance seemed, in their eyes, to deliver a fatal blow to the Democratic campaign—one that they believed would secure Trump’s path to reelection. The enthusiastic reception at the RNC only served to bolster Trump’s confidence, convincing him that the presidency was once again within his grasp.
Biden’s Surprising Withdrawal
The political landscape shifted dramatically when Biden, citing the existential threat another Trump term posed to democracy, made the surprising decision to step aside. For Trump, who would never entertain the thought of relinquishing power voluntarily, this move was inconceivable. Biden’s withdrawal paved the way for Kamala Harris—a younger, dynamic candidate who embodies the multiracial, democratic future of America.
Harris’s emergence as the Democratic nominee, alongside Tim Walz as her running mate, injected new energy into the race. Walz’s background as a football coach, high school teacher, and veteran offered a stark contrast to Trump’s obnoxious persona. For a campaign that had banked on facing a weakened Biden, the Harris-Walz ticket represented an unforeseen and formidable challenge. As these events disrupted his plans and introduced new dynamics into the race, Trump’s confidence began to waver.
A Mind Under Siege
The shift from Biden to the energized Harris-Walz ticket clearly unsettled Trump. This reaction was not merely political but deeply personal, rooted in long-standing concerns about Trump’s mental and cognitive health. Experts have observed that Trump displays behaviors consistent with malignant narcissism, antisocial personality disorder, and other severe mental health conditions. These assessments underscore his profound lack of empathy, compassion, and an exaggerated sense of self-importance.
The Pandemic Response as Evidence
Trump’s detachment from human suffering was starkly evident during the pandemic. When questioned by Jonathan Swan—then with Axios, now with The New York Times—in July 2020 about the 150,000 COVID-19 deaths, Trump dismissively responded, “It is what it is.” This response exposes a deeper issue: a man seemingly incapable of caring about others’ suffering unless it directly affects him. His detachment is further underscored by his niece, Mary Trump, who has publicly described her uncle as devoid of empathy and compassion.
Adding to this troubling portrait, Trump’s nephew has claimed that the former president once suggested that disabled people should die. This statement aligns with other reports of his disdain for those who have sacrificed for the nation. In another instance, Trump reportedly referred to military service members who died in combat as “losers” and “suckers,” further illustrating his inability to value the lives and sacrifices of others. Collectively, these behaviors paint a picture of a man whose personal and cognitive decline has led to an increasingly erratic and dangerous mindset, particularly as the pressures of the 2024 race intensify.
The Cognitive Decline
Concerns about Trump’s mental health are increasingly compounded by signs of cognitive decline. His family history—most notably his father, Fred Trump, who succumbed to Alzheimer’s disease—adds a grave dimension to these concerns.
Signs and Symptoms
Memory Issues: Ramin Setoodeh, co-editor-in-chief of Variety, shared a troubling encounter with Trump that revealed significant memory problems. Despite having spent an hour in a prior interview with Setoodeh, Trump failed to recognize him during a subsequent meeting at Trump Tower. Setoodeh’s account paints a concerning picture: “Donald Trump had severe memory issues. As the journalist who spent the most time with him, I have to say, he couldn’t remember things. He couldn’t even remember me.”
Speech and Focus: Trump has openly mocked environmentally sustainable military technology, ridiculing the idea of electric tanks by suggesting soldiers would have to drag large battery packs “like a little wagon.” His frequent digressions into unrelated topics—such as lamenting about sharks while discussing electric batteries for boats—underscore his difficulty in maintaining focus and coherence.
Physical Signs: Observers have noted changes in Trump’s movement and gait, including a wide-based walk and an awkward swing of his right leg. His movements appear stiff and unnatural, particularly when he attempts to dance or even stand still. His speech patterns further amplify these concerns, as he often displays confused speech, tangential thinking, and difficulty pronouncing words. Public statements, like his erroneous claim that “Joe Biden won against Barack Hussein Obama,” are riddled with errors and nonsensical phrases, indicating potential cognitive impairment.
Expert Opinions
Experts have weighed in on these troubling observations:
Dr. John Gartner has described Trump as “dangerously demented,” highlighting a stark contrast between Trump’s cognitive decline and the normal aging process seen in others, such as Joe Biden.
Dr. Elisabeth Zoffmann has proposed that Trump might be suffering from Behavioral Variant Fronto-Temporal Dementia (FTD), a condition marked by personality changes, social inappropriateness, and cognitive decline. Zoffmann’s observations, including Trump’s wide-based gait and speech changes, align with the diagnostic criteria for FTD, further raising concerns about his mental fitness.
Trump’s Legal Jeopardy
Trump’s unraveling is exacerbated by the mounting legal challenges he faces—unprecedented in both scale and severity for a former U.S. president. His decision to seek the presidency in 2024 is not merely a quest to reclaim power; it is, at its core, a desperate gambit to avoid imprisonment.
Convicted on 34 felony counts of falsifying business records related to hush money payments during the 2016 election, Trump’s legal woes extend far beyond these initial charges. They are merely the visible tip of a much larger iceberg. Looming over him are additional charges with potentially grave consequences, including allegations of espionage, RICO violations in Fulton County, Georgia, and attempts to overturn the 2020 election in Washington, D.C.
Each of these cases threatens Trump’s freedom in profound ways. He is acutely aware that the presidency—or, at the very least, the power it affords to obstruct or delay these proceedings—could be his only shield against incarceration.
In this context, Trump’s legal troubles are not just a backdrop to his 2024 campaign; they are its central driving force. What once represented a path to unchecked authority has now become a lifeline in his fight to avoid a prison sentence. As the legal noose tightens, Trump’s behavior grows increasingly erratic and desperate, reflecting the high stakes he faces. For Trump, the presidency has morphed into more than a symbol of power—it has become his last refuge against the very real possibility of spending his final years behind bars.
The Collapse of a Persona
As Donald Trump’s mental illness and cognitive decline become more apparent, the strain is increasingly reflected in his public behavior. The pressures he faces are causing his carefully constructed persona to crumble. His niece, Mary Trump, a psychologist, has publicly diagnosed her uncle with antisocial personality disorder, emphasizing his profound lack of empathy, compassion, and regard for others. Mary’s insights provide a psychological lens through which to understand Trump’s behavior, situating it within the broader context of his long-standing psychological issues.
Family Allegations and Public Behavior
Further adding to the disturbing portrait of Donald Trump, Fred Trump III, another family member, has leveled serious allegations against him. According to Fred, Trump once suggested that disabled people should die—a sentiment that starkly reflects his deep-seated disregard for human life, particularly when it conflicts with his own interests. This revelation from a family member underscores the extent of Trump’s callousness, a trait reportedly ingrained throughout his life.
Other family members and close associates have shared similarly unsettling experiences that align with this pattern of behavior. Trump’s lack of empathy is not confined to personal interactions; it permeates his public conduct as well. He has been reported to have referred to soldiers who died in combat as “losers” and “suckers,” a view that sharply contrasts with the respect traditionally accorded to military service members. Such remarks not only expose his inability to honor the sacrifices of others but also further unravel the persona he has long projected as a strong, patriotic leader.
As legal jeopardy mounts and the realization dawns that his escape route—the presidency—is slipping from his grasp, Trump’s behavior has grown increasingly erratic and unhinged. His public appearances often devolve into rambling, disjointed speeches filled with conspiracy theories, baseless accusations, and desperate attempts to cling to relevance. This unraveling is not merely the decline of a political figure; it is the collapse of a carefully curated image that has been central to Trump’s identity and public life for decades.
A Critical Moment
The unraveling of Donald Trump marks a pivotal moment in American politics. As his mental and cognitive decline becomes increasingly evident, it is imperative for both the public and the media to acknowledge the dangers of allowing someone so clearly unfit for office to continue wielding power. The race slipping from Trump’s grasp is not merely a political defeat; it signifies the disintegration of a persona long upheld by bluster and a relentless evasion of consequences. The pressing question now extends beyond whether Trump will lose the race—it is what will unfold as he confronts the full weight of legal and personal reckoning.
