Nicolai Haugsted
The POTUS’ mental state is far worse than what previously thought, therapist explains.
Fresh debate surrounding Donald Trump’s mental fitness has resurfaced after a prominent psychotherapist publicly claimed the US president may be suffering from cognitive decline severe enough to place millions of lives at risk.
Comments from Dr. John Gartner, founder of the organisation Duty To Warn, have drawn attention after he argued during a SiriusXM interview that Trump’s recent behaviour points toward what he believes could be dementia-related deterioration.
Duty To Warn consists of mental health professionals and activists who say they feel obligated to alert the public when they believe political leaders may present a danger.
Psychotherapist points to “frontal lobe” decline
Dr. Gartner claimed Trump’s actions and public statements suggest damage connected to the president’s frontal lobe.
“What I want people to understand is that there’s a confluence here between him losing his mind and all of us being at risk to die,” Gartner said during the interview.
Critics of Trump have repeatedly questioned his behaviour since his return to the White House last year, though no medical diagnosis confirming dementia has been made public.
Gartner nevertheless argued that someone displaying what he described as increasingly unstable behaviour should not control America’s military capabilities.
Comparisons to historical conquerors
During the SiriusXM appearance, host Dean Obeidallah asked Gartner to explain why he believes Trump’s behaviour represents a growing risk.
Gartner described the president as “manically grandiose” and referenced social media posts in which Trump allegedly compared himself to religious or historic figures.
“I don’t know if we have time to put on the show, but he posted another picture of himself as Jesus,” Gartner said.
“Another one. It kind of looks like the Statue of Liberty, but he’s got a crown of thorns and it’s clearly his face.”
“And he says, ‘I’ve suffered even more than Jesus.’ So, in other words, he has to be God. He has to be above everyone. He’s even better. Not only is he saying, ‘I’m Jesus.’ He’s saying, ‘I’m actually better than Jesus.’”
Gartner further claimed Trump frequently portrays himself as historically unique and superior to previous presidents.
“You know, ‘I’m the best president. I deserve the Nobel Peace Prize. And every building should be named after me. My face should be on the $100 bill.’ He’s posted a tweet of that,” Gartner said.
Warning escalates dramatically
Discussion later turned toward Trump’s references to famous military leaders from history.
Gartner claimed the president has repeatedly compared himself to figures such as Julius Caesar, Napoleon and Alexander the Great.
“Here’s where it’s apocalyptic,” Gartner stated.
“He’s comparing himself to Caesar, to Napoleon, and to Alexander the Great. Well, what do those three leaders have in common?”
“The worldwide military conquerors.”
Gartner then issued his most controversial warning of the interview while discussing the size of the modern American military arsenal.
“He’s in command of a military arsenal a thousand times more powerful than anything those men commanded,” he said.
“Okay, then if you put two and two together, I’m predicting that Donald Trump will kill more people than Hitler.”
No medical evidence presented
No official medical evidence supporting Gartner’s claims has been released publicly, and Trump’s allies have repeatedly dismissed accusations surrounding the president’s mental health as politically motivated attacks.
White House officials have not publicly responded to Gartner’s latest comments.
