GOP Strategist Raises Concerns Over Trump’s Mental Fitness

Rick Wilson Warns of Cognitive Decline

Republican strategist and Lincoln Project co-founder Rick Wilson claims President Donald Trump may be showing signs of cognitive decline severe enough to prevent him from completing his term.
In an exclusive interview with Times Radio on May 31, 2025, Wilson described Trump’s behavior as incoherent and troubling.

“His inability to articulate a thought without constant asides or lapses—these are verbal aphasias,” Wilson said. “This isn’t the Trump of 2015, 2020, or even 2024.”

Questioning Trump’s Future

Wilson, who has monitored Trump since 2015, cast doubt on the president’s ability to serve a full term.

“Whether he makes it through four years is an open question,” he warned.

Although Trump recently passed physical and psychological evaluations, Wilson suggested these results may no longer reflect his current condition. He pointed to behaviors often seen in early dementia and emphasized that passing a test doesn’t rule out age-related decline.

Trump’s Medical Reports Paint a Different Picture

Just two months earlier, Trump released detailed results from his April 2025 physical. Conducted at Walter Reed Medical Center, the evaluation included input from 14 specialists and covered everything from lab work to a full neurological screening.

Dr. Sean P. Barbabella, the president’s physician, described Trump as being in “excellent health” with strong cardiac, pulmonary, and neurological function. His mental status, motor skills, reflexes, and emotional indicators were all deemed normal.

“His active lifestyle continues to contribute significantly to his well-being,” Barbabella wrote.

A History of Selective Transparency

Trump has long controlled the timing and content of his health disclosures. Past elections featured vague endorsements of his fitness rather than full medical records.

In contrast, the 2025 memo detailed ongoing conditions like high cholesterol, allergies, a past COVID-19 infection, and rosacea. It also listed his medications, including rosuvastatin, ezetimibe, aspirin, and a topical cream for skin inflammation.

Spotlight on the 2024 Campaign

Health questions resurfaced during the 2024 campaign after Trump, then 78, became the oldest major-party nominee in U.S. history—following President Biden’s withdrawal. Despite repeated calls for full transparency, Trump declined to release a comprehensive medical report during the campaign.

Instead, his team pointed to older statements from personal physicians, including Dr. Ronny Jackson, who treated him after the 2023 assassination attempt in Pennsylvania.

On November 20, 2023, Dr. Bruce Aronwald declared Trump in “excellent” health but did not cite any tests. Later, campaign spokesperson Steven Cheung defended the decision not to release new results, stating Trump had already shared multiple assessments verifying his fitness.

Campaign Trail Versus Cognitive Doubts

Cheung also emphasized Trump’s active schedule, contrasting it with Vice President Kamala Harris’s pace.

“He has maintained an extremely busy and active campaign unlike any other in political history,” he claimed.

Still, critics like Wilson remain unconvinced. They point out that no new cognitive test results were released between 2018 and 2025—despite Trump’s age and recent behavior drawing growing scrutiny.