Camilla Jessen
As Donald Trump nears his 79th birthday, concerns about cognitive decline swirls.
Donald Trump may still command packed rallies and dominate headlines, but behind the public persona, there’s a quieter, more personal fear he reportedly carries every day: the fear of losing his mind — just like his father did.
That’s the claim made by Bloomberg editor and longtime Trump watcher Timothy L. O’Brien during a recent appearance on MSNBC’s The Weekend: Primetime. This was reported by Newsner.
According to O’Brien, Trump is “haunted” by the idea of suffering from dementia, just as Fred Trump did before his death in 1999.
Trump lives in fear of following the same path,” O’Brien said. “It’s a burden he’s carried for a long time.
A Family History
Fred Trump, Donald’s father, was a successful real estate developer who stayed active in his career even after being diagnosed with dementia in the early 1990s.
Eventually, his condition worsened into Alzheimer’s.
He passed away at the age of 93, but not before years of slow decline that the entire Trump family witnessed.
Family friend Richard Levy once recalled how Fred “came into the office every day until the day he went to the hospital.”
Now, as Donald Trump approaches his 79th birthday in June, people close to him say the signs of aging are starting to show.
“He’s Changed” — Observers and Family Speak Out
Timothy O’Brien described Trump as someone who, while still craving power and attention, may not be the same energetic figure many remember.
“Compare him now to Trump 1.0,” he said. “The speech is more slurred, the posture is slouched, the energy seems drained.”
Even Trump’s nephew, Fred C. Trump III, has opened up about the changes he’s noticed.
Speaking to People magazine last year, Fred said: “I’ve noticed the shift… and I see it unfolding in a way that’s very similar to how my grandfather declined.”
Anyone claiming dementia isn’t in the Trump family is ignoring the truth.
A Silent Struggle?
Trump rarely talks about his own health, especially not his mental sharpness. He’s often criticized others — including President Joe Biden — for showing signs of age, but says little about himself.
According to O’Brien, that’s likely intentional.
Admitting concern, even privately, would be a political risk for someone whose image depends on strength and control.
But O’Brien believes that fear is real. And for Trump, it’s not just about politics anymore. It’s personal.
Despite the rumors, Trump continues to suggest he might want to stay in office beyond the two terms allowed by the U.S. Constitution. While many doubt he would — or could — do it, O’Brien believes that his motivation isn’t just about politics.
He’d love to live until he’s 300,” O’Brien joked. “And he’d probably like to be president for 200 of those years.