Trump's Memory Lapse on Alzheimer's Term During Health Discussion
President Donald Trump experienced a notable verbal stumble during a conversation with a reporter, appearing to blank on the name "Alzheimer's disease" while denying he has the condition. The incident occurred in an interview with New York Magazine's Ben Terris, detailed in a comprehensive new report examining questions about the president's health and cognitive state.
Conversation Reveals Memory Moment
During the exchange, which included White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt, Trump attempted to explain his father's health history. Fred Trump, who passed away in 1999 at age 93, reportedly had minimal health issues until very late in life. According to Terris's account, the president described the situation:
"At a certain age, about 86, 87, he started getting, what do they call it?" Trump reportedly said, pointing to his forehead and looking to Leavitt for assistance with the elusive term.
"Alzheimer's," Leavitt provided.
"Like an Alzheimer's thing," Trump continued. "Well, I don't have it."
Trump's Health Assertions and Cabinet Meeting Defense
When asked if he thinks about the condition, Trump responded: "No, I don't think about it at all. You know why? Because whatever it is, my attitude is whatever."
The president also addressed recent speculation about his alertness during government meetings. He denied falling asleep during a Cabinet session, despite appearances suggesting otherwise. "It's boring as hell," Trump explained. "I'm going around a room, and I've got 28 guys ― the last one was three and a half hours. I have to sit back and listen, and I move my hand so that people will know I'm listening. I'm hearing every word, and I can't wait to get out."
Medical Comparisons and Self-Assessment
Trump further insisted he feels "the same as I did 40 years ago," while his medical team confirmed they have no concerns about his health status. In a revealing moment during the interview, with Trump observing, Terris asked Col. James Jones, a physician's assistant who held a senior medical role in the Obama White House, which president is healthier: Trump or former President Barack Obama.
Jones responded definitively: "President Trump."
The full report provides additional context about these health discussions and the ongoing examination of presidential fitness for office.
