A psychologist has pointed to a moment he believes revealed deeper concerns about President Trump’s cognitive health, suggesting it “gave the game away” regarding possible dementia.
Dr. John Gartner argues that Trump’s repeated cognitive testing goes beyond routine medical screening and instead appears to reflect ongoing monitoring of a known issue. Speaking with The Daily Beast, Gartner focused on Trump’s frequent public references to scoring perfectly on the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), saying the pattern itself is concerning.
“You might reasonably give someone a MoCA once, simply due to age as part of a physical,” Gartner said. “But if it’s administered three times, you’re no longer screening for dementia—you’re tracking it.”
Public boasting raises concern
Trump has repeatedly highlighted his performance on the MoCA. In April, he said he answered every question correctly, and in October he reiterated the claim, describing the test as “very difficult.”
In one speech, Trump contrasted himself with political opponents, calling some “low IQ” and challenging them to take the same exams he said he completed at Walter Reed Medical Center. He went on to describe portions of the test—saying early questions were simple, but later ones were far more complex and beyond the reach of others.
Dr. Gartner says these comments are less impressive than troubling. According to him, Trump’s fixation on the tests suggests heightened concern over cognitive decline.
“He gave himself away again, as he often does,” Gartner said, adding that repeated assessments could indicate doctors are closely tracking changes in Trump’s mental functioning.
Gartner further speculated that Trump may be undergoing regular cognitive tests and imaging, such as MRIs, to monitor potential dementia or stroke-related issues. He also pointed to behavioral changes, noting that sudden increases in speech speed or activity can signal a shift in mental status.
“We have to measure someone against their own baseline,” he said. “A dramatic change in pace can indicate something clinically significant.”
DOJ document controversy adds scrutiny
Questions surrounding Trump’s mental fitness have emerged alongside another growing controversy involving the Department of Justice.
Last week, a photograph of Trump with Jeffrey Epstein was briefly removed from a DOJ document release before later being restored, prompting accusations of a cover-up. The DOJ said the image—one of more than a dozen temporarily pulled—was flagged “out of an abundance of caution” due to concerns for victims.
Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche rejected claims that the photo was removed to shield Trump, calling such allegations “absurd” and noting that numerous images of Trump with Epstein have long been public.
Still, criticism came from across the political spectrum.
Congressman Thomas Massie accused the DOJ of violating both the spirit and letter of the law, saying he is preparing contempt charges against Attorney General Pam Bondi.
Survivors and legal experts also condemned the handling of the files. Attorney Gloria Allred said some materials failed to adequately protect victims, including unredacted names and explicit images, calling the oversight deeply harmful.
Epstein survivor Ashley Rubright expressed skepticism over the DOJ’s explanation, saying the justification “doesn’t add up” and demanding accountability.
DOJ official Jay Clayton later acknowledged that the review process was vulnerable to both human and technical errors, noting the difficulty of identifying individuals in the images and explaining why some faces were blurred even when victim status was unclear.
