Opinion: Trump's cognitive slips cannot be overlooked
Former President Donald Trump's verbal gaffes continue to raise concerns about his mental acuity, as he often confuses cities, leaders, and even countries This opinion piece delves into the issue, questioning whether such cognitive confusion is suitable for someone holding the highest office in the country
Dean Obeidallah, a former attorney, hosts the daily program "The Dean Obeidallah Show" on SiriusXM radio. You can follow him on Threads at www.threads.net/@deanobeidallah. The opinions expressed in this commentary are his own. For more opinion, visit CNN.
In a recent interview with CNN anchor Jim Acosta, longtime political analyst Larry Sabato discussed former President Donald Trump's increasing mental lapses. This includes a recent incident at a campaign stop where Trump mistakenly referred to former President Barack Obama as the current occupant of the White House.
In response, Acosta was informed by Sabato that Trump's supporters are unconcerned if he has declined somewhat. "The largest portion of the Republican base, the Trump base, is not receptive to any critiques about Trump," Sabato stated.
U.S. Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) attends a House Oversight Committee hearing concerning an impeachment inquiry of President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC, on September 28, 2023. The hearing aims to address the constitutional and legal concerns raised by House Republicans regarding President Biden and his son Hunter Biden. (Photo by Drew Angerer/Getty Images)
Opinion: Marjorie Taylor Greene mishandles the explanation, disregarding the significance of the growing number of cognitive red flags exhibited by Trump. This should concern all of us as it raises the possibility of him securing the presidency in 2024.
Please note that the response below contains the revised
Let's be clear, I'm not referring to Trump's notorious habit of making outrageous and inflammatory remarks or deceiving the public for his own political advantage. Unfortunately, we have become accustomed to that aspect of Trump. No, what I find deeply concerning is something much more alarming. Over the course of just the last two months of his campaign, Trump has displayed a worrisome level of confusion and made several errors, from claiming he defeated Barack Obama in 2016 to mistakenly mixing up the names of cities and states.
Here is a breakdown of some of his most egregious recent misstatements.
On September 16, during the conservative Pray Vote Stand summit, Trump made several mistakes. He mistakenly referred to President Joe Biden as Barack Obama, incorrectly claiming to be "leading by a lot" against Obama. (It should be noted that Obama is not a candidate in the 2024 election.)
During the aforementioned appearance, Trump proclaimed, "We managed to win an election that was deemed impossible to win by many." Suddenly realizing his error, Trump promptly corrected himself by stating, "Hillary Clinton, his actual rival in 2016."
In an odd turn of events, Trump further asserted that Biden would lead the United States into "World War II," presumably intending to refer to WW III.
During a speech in South Carolina, Trump mistakenly identified Jeb Bush as his brother, former President George W. Bush. Trump reminisced about his victory in the 2016 South Carolina GOP primary, confidently stating that "When I arrived here, everyone believed Bush would emerge triumphant. They thought so because Bush was supposedly a remarkable military figure." He further criticized Bush's decision to involve the United States in the Middle East, questioning the successful outcome of that choice.
Fact check: In 2016, Trump emerged victorious over Jeb Bush, the former governor of Florida, despite the fact that Jeb Bush had no prior military experience and was not responsible for leading the United States into the Iraq war. It is important to note that Trump never went head-to-head with George W. Bush, the individual he was actually referring to.
October 23.
During a speech in New Hampshire, Trump appeared confused about which country Viktor Orban is the president of.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 06: Former President Donald Trump addresses the media following his testimony in his civil fraud trial at the New York State Supreme Court on November 06, 2023, in New York City. Trump, along with his two sons, Donald Trump Jr. and Eric Trump, is accused of conspiring to inflate his net worth on financial statements provided to banks and insurers in order to obtain loans. The New York Attorney General, Letitia James, has filed a lawsuit seeking $250 million in damages. Trump's sons testified last week, and his daughter Ivanka Trump is scheduled to testify on Wednesday, despite efforts to prevent her testimony.
Opinion: Judge Aileen Cannon's decision in favor of Trump highlighted.
Speaking to the audience, Trump mentioned Viktor Orban, a highly influential leader. He mistakenly referred to him as the leader of Turkey.
Contrary to expectations, Orban is the current leader of Hungary, while Recep Tayyip ErdoÄan holds the presidency in Turkey. Notably, geographically, the two nations are not in close proximity.
What magnified the astonishment and uneasiness surrounding this remark is Trump's familiarity with Orban. Trump has a lengthy track record of endorsing the right-wing autocrat. Furthermore, in the same speech, Trump made an incorrect statement by asserting that Orban's country shared a border with Russia. In reality, neither Hungary nor Turkey share a border with Russia.
October 29
As he took the stage, Trump greeted the crowd with the words, "Hello, to a place where weve done very well, Sioux Falls! Thank you very much."
The problem arose when Trump mistakenly mentioned Sioux City, Iowa instead of Sioux Falls, a city in South Dakota. Iowa Republican state Senator Brad Zaun promptly approached Trump on stage and whispered something in his ear. Afterward, Trump visibly exclaimed, "Oh!" and then proceeded to correct himself by addressing the crowd, saying, "So, Sioux City, let me inquire, how many people here are from Sioux City? How many? And who among you is not from Sioux City? Where on earth do you come from?!"
It was a decidedly odd way to address people at a campaign stop.
November 11
This brings us to the latest blunder on Veterans Day weekend, as Trump once again referenced Orban during a speech in Claremont, New Hampshire.
Trump mentioned that the Hungarian leader was asked for advice on how to navigate a world that appears to be chaotic and falling apart, and Orban supposedly responded by suggesting that "President Obama" should step down immediately and be replaced by President Trump, who ensured global security.
Nearly everyone is aware that Obama is no longer the current US president. These errors have raised concerns among some of Trump's GOP rivals for the 2024 election, implying that the former president may be exhibiting signs of cognitive decline.
Get Our Free Weekly Newsletter
Sign up for CNN Opinions newsletter
Join us on Twitter and Facebook.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has issued some noteworthy warnings, stating recently, "Donald Trump is not the same as he was in 2015 and 2016. Now, he is a different person, and it is disheartening to witness." DeSantis's campaign further suggested that the decline in Trump's mental sharpness might be the reason why "his handlers are preventing him from participating in debates."
Honestly, that appears highly probable from my perspective.
During a debate, Trump would spend two hours on stage, requiring him to think quickly without the aid of a teleprompter. Naturally, Trump could effortlessly alleviate any worries about possible cognitive decline by joining the upcoming presidential debate instead of bypassing the initial three.
What adds to the intrigue is the reversal of roles: Trump, who is likely to be the Democratic opponent in the 2024 presidential race, has consistently criticized Biden, who is 80 years old, for exhibiting signs of mental decline. However, it is worth noting that Biden is only three years older than the 77-year-old Trump.
While there are instances where Trump appears to be functioning normally, we must be concerned about the possibility of a worrisome mental deterioration. This concern arises because, if Trump were to win the presidency in 2024, he would assume crucial responsibilities, including the role of the commander-in-chief of the US military.
The White House is not suitable for individuals who are unclear about their location, unsure of the true president, or mistakenly believe that the leader of Hungary is in charge of affairs in Turkey.
