Donald Trump’s frequent mistakes, nonsensical statements, and unusual behavior have sparked doubts among his opponents about the 78-year-old candidate’s mental and physical capabilities.

Whether it was dancing to his music for nearly 40 minutes at a recent town hall, blaming Ukraine for Russia’s actions, or making locker room jokes about a professional golfer, Trump is giving his rivals plenty of material to label him as “unhinged” and more.

In a manner similar to how Republicans targeted 81-year-old President Joe Biden earlier this year, Democrats, including horror author Stephen King and former presidents Bill Clinton and Barack Obama, are making the most of the opportunities to criticize Trump—creating a wealth of targets.

According to Michael Cohen, a former attorney for Trump who is now his critic, Trump’s health raises concern as he exhibits increasing confusion and disorientation during interviews and rallies.

“This is why he constantly fixates on his health records and insists he’s the healthiest candidate in U.S. history,” Cohen remarked.

Critics argue that Trump’s erratic behavior has always been present, but it’s gaining more attention since Biden exited the presidential race in July.

Supporters of Trump claim that he simply has a distinctive approach and that the focus on his unconventional rally behavior is politically motivated.

Trump’s speaking style has never been refined. His rallies have historically been lengthy, meandering events filled with jabs at opponents and familiar stories. Recently, these events have become even longer and less structured.

Many of his supporters appreciate his authenticity, asserting that his style distinguishes him from conventional politicians.

However, Trump’s recent comments and actions have raised concerns, especially as he approaches the end of his third presidential campaign. His age and lack of detailed health reports further contribute to the uncertainty.

Trump has only shared vague declarations about his health from U.S. Representative Ronny Jackson, a former White House physician.

“The decision not to disclose any medical records suggests there’s likely information that is not favorable unflattering,” remarked Jonathan Reiner, a cardiologist and professor of medicine and surgery at George Washington University.

Vice President Harris’ doctor shared a comprehensive two-page health report on October 12, confirming that she “has the necessary physical and mental resilience to fulfill presidential responsibilities.”

When asked to provide similar information, Trump’s campaign referenced a brief November 2023 letter from his doctor claiming Trump’s “overall health is excellent,” and that “his cognitive assessments were outstanding.”

Harris reacts strongly

If elected, Trump would set the record as the oldest person to win the presidency.

Harris and other Democrats have capitalized on doubts about his fitness for the role, questioning his secrecy about medical records and his recent incidents.

“He’s becoming increasingly unstable and unhinged. The American people are witnessing it firsthand,” Harris stated on Saturday, just a few hours before Trump made comments about the late golfer Arnold Palmer—which included references to Palmer’s anatomy—at a rally in Pennsylvania.

At the rally, Trump told attendees, “When Palmer stepped out of the shower, the other men said, ‘Oh my god. That’s unbelievable.'”

Trump has also recently stopped taking questions from the audience during events.

During an event in Pennsylvania, President Biden commented on former President Trump’s recent behavior, which included a DJ set after medical emergencies interrupted a crowd. Instead of stopping the music, he continued for 39 minutes while supporters gradually left.

Biden took the opportunity to label Trump as “unhinged,” a description Harris echoed on Saturday.

This situation allowed Biden to respond to prior GOP remarks questioning his age and perceived frailty.

Currently, Trump is significantly older than his competitors. Meanwhile, Harris will celebrate her 60th birthday this Sunday.

Following Trump’s humorous performance at the recent Al Smith dinner, hosted by New York’s Catholic archbishop, former GOP Representative Barbara Comstock remarked on Trump’s confused and slurred speech, criticizing his behavior as unbecoming.

Although Trump’s supporters insist he possesses the energy and mental acuity of a younger individual, there are indications he may be showing signs of aging. He has recently canceled some appearances, leading to speculation about potential exhaustion.

Politico highlighted that an online media outlet, The Shade Room, sought an interview with Trump but was informed by members of his team that he was feeling “exhausted and refusing some interviews.”

Harris addressed the media, stating, “His team is stating he is suffering from exhaustion; that’s their explanation.”

She continued, “Being President is likely one of the toughest jobs globally. We must question whether he is capable of fulfilling it if he is worn out from campaigning.”

Harris’s campaign further circulated news articles highlighting claims of Trump’s fatigue on social media, commenting, “Okay Donald, let’s get you to bed.”

Experts See No Significant Decline

Experts suggest that if Trump faces any issues—something only his doctor and family could confirm—there’s no evident age-related condition impacting him.

Jamie Reilly, a cognitive psychologist at Temple University, noted Trump’s distinct speech patterns have been consistent over the years. “It’s difficult to label his style,” Reilly commented.

Reilly observed, “His appearance shifts significantly day by day,” which typically isn’t associated with aging-related illnesses like Parkinson’s or dementia.

Arthur McGovern, a psychology professor at Nichols College, remarked that while Trump says a lot that isn’t factual, his speech is as authentic as that of politicians like Barack Obama, noted for his adherence to truth.

McGovern analyzed Trump’s public appearances and found nothing concerning about his mental health. He noted no signs of decline in Trump’s performance.

“He doesn’t strike me as someone to be particularly worried about,” McGovern expressed. “Unfortunately, Biden does.”

Clinical psychologist Ben Michaelis has evaluated Trump’s speech from before his television career to his presidency.

He noted that Trump was “highly articulate” in his 40s, utilizing more complex sentence structures compared to when he first ran for office in his 60s.

“His speech patterns and vocabulary have certainly evolved. He was much more organized in his middle age,” Michaelis added. “There has been some decline.”

However, Michaelis pointed out that examining Trump’s language use from 2017 to now, he hasn’t noted any significant further decline.

“If he were your grandfather, you’d probably not even think about it. The implications are more critical given his presidential candidacy,” Michaelis remarked.

‘I’m Not Even Tired’

Trump, who has previously referred to himself as a “very stable genius,” claims critics are merely engaging in political games.

“I’m not even tired,” Trump stated to reporters on Friday in Detroit. “I feel exhilarated. Want to know why? We’re leading her in the polls because the American public doesn’t want her.”

Trump’s spokesperson, Karoline Leavitt, dismissed reports of his exhaustion as “unequivocally false,” asserting that he is in superb health.

Nevertheless, the political commentary website The Bulwark, quoting anonymous insiders familiar with Trump, suggested that “the exhaustion is real” due to a demanding campaign schedule.

A Trump adviser commented, “He’s obviously tired. Who wouldn’t be?”

Trump’s events are notorious for featuring mistakes, slurred words, and quirky moments, which are often highlighted by his opponents.

Former President Barack Obama critiqued Trump’s recent remarks about in vitro fertilization and the January 6 Capitol riot, calling attention to some of Trump’s more unusual statements.

In Arizona, Obama stated, “He referred to himself as ‘the father of IVF.’ I’m not sure what that means, and neither do you. He described January 6 as a day of love as if it were Woodstock.”

No change in Trump, say some Republicans

Some critics within the Republican party believe there hasn’t been a significant transformation in Trump.

Former Republican congressman Joe Walsh noted that discussions surrounding Trump “losing it” overlook the larger concern of whether he ever had it at all.

Walsh remarked, “I don’t see any change in Trump. He’s always been a bit nonsensical.”

Trump’s mix-ups have led him to confuse names frequently.

For example, Trump mistakenly referred to his Republican rival Nikki Haley when he meant to mention Nancy Pelosi in a speech prior to the January 23 primaries in New Hampshire and often mixes up Obama’s name for Biden’s.

His meandering speech patterns may hinder his ability to deliver a coherent closing message.

Marc Short, who worked as Trump’s White House legislative affairs director and later as Mike Pence’s chief of staff, suggested that Trump should concentrate on key Republican issues like immigration and the economy.

Instead, Short expressed that Trump seems distracted by rehashing past issues and generating comments that may be off-topic, focusing on unfounded claims about Haitian immigrants and making personal attacks against Vice President Harris.

Nonetheless, Short does not believe Trump’s age is the main factor here, nor does he feel Trump’s mental sharpness is declining.

“I don’t perceive it,” Short explained. “He possesses remarkable stamina for someone who is 78 years old. I don’t think there’s a notable shift in his demeanor or attitude.”

Short theorized that the Harris campaign might be highlighting these concerns to provoke a reaction from Trump, a strategy that proved effective during the September 10 debate.

Numerous Republicans assert that criticisms about Trump’s mental capacity are unfounded.

Sam Nunberg, who worked on Trump’s initial campaign but has since become a critic, claims he hasn’t seen any significant difference in Trump’s public appearances.

“He’s not Joe Biden,” Nunberg stated.

Many of Trump’s allies maintain he is mentally sharp.

According to U.S. Rep. Michael Waltz of Florida, who was present at a recent rally in Pennsylvania, “He is as sharp as ever. I have never seen anyone with such drive and energy.”