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As questions mount over the president’s mental fitness, a somber mood of political unease settles over the nation’s capital.Washington Today
MS NOW anchor Katy Tur asked viewers if President Donald Trump is still mentally fit, citing two new polls that show a growing number of Americans, including Democrats, independents, and Republicans, are starting to doubt his mental acuity. Tur pointed to Trump’s apparent sleeping during cabinet meetings, stories about him forcing aides to wear incorrectly sized shoes, and his tendency for wild asides and made-up stories during serious discussions as evidence that he may be declining mentally as he nears 80 years old.
Why it matters
As Trump prepares to launch a war he does not seem to have a plan for, growing concerns about his mental state could have serious implications for the country. The polls suggest a significant portion of the public is losing confidence in Trump’s ability to effectively lead the nation.
The details
Tur highlighted two recent polls – one from the Washington Post, ABC, and Ipsos, and another from Reuters and Ipsos – that found the number of people who think Trump lacks the mental sharpness to serve effectively is now climbing to 56%, and six in 10 Americans say he is becoming more erratic as he ages. Tur pointed to examples of Trump’s behavior, such as apparent sleeping during cabinet meetings, forcing aides to wear incorrectly sized shoes, and making wild asides and fabricated stories during serious discussions, as evidence of his potential mental decline.
Trump is about to turn 80 years old.
The players
Katy Tur
An anchor for MS NOW who examined new polls showing growing concerns about President Trump’s mental acuity.
The former president who is nearing 80 years old and facing mounting questions about his mental fitness to lead the country, particularly as he prepares to launch a war.
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What they’re saying
“Is Donald Trump well? Is his head in the presidency? Does he have the mental acuity to lead this country?”
— Katy Tur, MS NOW Anchor
“This pen is very inexpensive, but it writes well. I like it, but I can’t have the pen the way it was — you know what it is. I don’t want to give too much publicity, but they do treat me well: Sharpie. So I came here and they have $1,000 pens. Beautiful pen, ballpoint.”
— Donald Trump, Former President
What’s next
The growing concerns about Trump’s mental state could lead to increased scrutiny of his behavior and decision-making, particularly as he prepares to launch a war that he does not appear to have a clear plan for.
The takeaway
The polls showing a majority of Americans doubting Trump’s mental acuity raise serious questions about his ability to effectively lead the country, especially as he nears 80 and takes on major foreign policy decisions. This could have significant implications for the nation’s stability and security.
