Public anxiety is rising after footage emerged of former President **Donald Trump** seemingly forgetting a critical fact right in front of reporters—sparking new rounds of concern over his mental fitness.
The incident occurred inside the Oval Office this week during a press huddle. When asked about Federal Reserve Chair **Jerome Powell**, Trump launched into criticism: “He’s doing a terrible job… I’m surprised Joe Biden put him in…”
The moment went silent as reporters and viewers realized Trump appeared to have completely forgotten that **he himself appointed Powell in 2018**. He only switched focus to Biden at the end—but the omission didn’t go unnoticed. UNILAD covered the clip, and Yahoo noted how Trump seemed to erase his own role.
A viral tweet captured broad concern:
“The man can’t even remember appointing the Fed Chair himself—yet we’re supposed to trust him with the economy?”
Experts emphasize that misremembering such a stark detail—one “etched into the record,” as finance historians put it—is not a usual slip-up. For a former president to omit self-credit in real time triggered alarm bells. PBS has compiled similar moments where Trump’s rhetoric felt loose and unmoored.
Several mental-health professionals have been sounding alarms. **MindSite News** published interviews with psychologist Dr. John Gartner, who warned that investors should watch for signs of cognitive decline—rambling, word-finding struggles, and incoherence. He argued the White House may be “sanewashing” Trump’s issues by selectively sharing polished clips. MindSite analysis.
Adding fuel, a Republican strategist told the *Economic Times (India)* there are “constant lapses and verbal aphasias” that signal worrying decline—traits that were flagged months ago. Economic Times reported.
A second tweet drove it home:
“If he can’t remember appointing Powell, what else does he forget?”
The White House has defended Trump, citing a mild diagnosis of chronic venous insufficiency and dubbing the missing moment nothing more than a “normal slip.” Washington Post details the CVI explanation. Age 79, they argue, comes with occasional memory blips.
But the political context adds complexity. MSNBC host **Lawrence O’Donnell** highlighted another recent flub—when Trump was asked about a migrant facility in Florida dubbed “Alligator Alcatraz.” Instead of detailing the operation, he veered into a speech about living in Florida. O’Donnell labeled it a “stunning exhibition” of mental disconnect. The Daily Beast covers the moment.
On top of that, California Governor **Gavin Newsom** recently said on *The Daily* podcast that Trump was “not all there”—echoing similar critiques of President Biden, but with added bluntness. New York Post reported Newsom’s critique.
These incidents arrive just months after Trump released a full medical report, deeming him in “excellent health” and “fully fit” to serve—but shrouding full cognitive exam results. Public suspicion has soared: a 2024 AP poll found 60% of Americans saw him as too old for office, a figure that hasn’t budged. Wiki overview of fitness worries.
Republicans privately admit panic is spreading. Some strategists worry these images are more contagious than Biden’s gaffes. One told *Democracy Now!* that the missing-minute moment with Powell feels like a turning point in public sentiment. Democracy Now! covered the shift.
The third tweet spoke to the larger worry:
“These aren’t normal hiccups—this is a slow decline playing out live.”
Cognitive neurologists caution that age-related decline can start showing in one’s 70s—typically as word-finding delays or mild disorientation. But forgetting key self-history publicly—without immediate correction—is more serious. BU Today explored that distinction.
Yet Trump’s camp dismisses all anxiety as partisan smears. They point to his electoral bounce, full physical exams, and relentless fundraising as evidence of vitality. His surrogates say the public sees memory mistakes as “proof of human relatability,” not weakness. Still, strategists fear that misfire will shape future divides.
This moment arrives at a volatile political moment. Many Republicans are urging Trump to undergo additional neurological testing—possibly at Walter Reed—to set minds at ease. But releasing that data could be risky if anomalies are found, as analysts insure the danger of more headlines.
Meanwhile Democrats see opportunity. The Biden campaign launched ads featuring Trump’s footage with questions: “Can we trust our safety to someone who forgot he appointed the Fed Chair?” Yet most polling shows their base has been unaffected—elder-voter attitudes have shifted little.
Deeper cultural questions also emerge. As presidents age, the public expects transparency. With elder statesmen like Biden and Trump at the helm, the question isn’t if they slow—it’s whether that matters when nations trust them with nuclear codes.
For now, Trump’s supporters are split: loyalists defend the moment as politicking, while moderates privately voice concern. Columnists at **The Daily Beast** warn that “MAGA’s foundation cracks” as more people snap on cognitive alarms. Daily Beast’s Tina Brown sees a turning point.
Forensic clarity remains elusive. Trump could do another cognitive exam and release footage—something his internal advisors are debating. But timing is critical: the longer the silence, the louder the worry.
This isn’t about partisan politics—it’s about fitness for office. Forgetting you appointed the Fed Chair may sound trivial, but it isn’t. It speaks to memory, confidence, and presence. And those are exactly the traits Americans expect their leaders to show, not fudge.
