Since President Donald Trump started his second term in office last year, rumors of him having dementia have been rampant.
Trump’s lost look during press conferences, which many have described as a “deer in the headlights” expression, or his bizarre comments, don’t help his case either.
But it turns out, the allegations date back to 2017, when Jeffrey Epstein claimed in an email that Trump was showing signs of dementia at a dinner.
Highlights
- A 2017 Epstein email revealed guests at a dinner worried Trump showed signs of dementia, noting heavy makeup and not recognizing old friends.
- Steve Bannon allegedly labeled Trump with 'early-stage dementia' in 2017, citing a lack of attention and repetitive speech, though he denies the claim.
- Mary Trump, a clinical psychologist and niece of Trump, claimed he shows Alzheimer's signs similar to his father’s senile dementia.
Epstein alleged in a 2017 email that Trump was showing signs of dementia
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"Some at dinner with donald last night, were concerned about dementia. tons of makeup. did not recognize old friends," Epstein wrote in an email to Trump biographer Michael Wolff. The email was released by the Department of Justice, along with millions of pages of investigation files related to the financier and convicted sex offender.
Former White House chief strategist Steve Bannon also allegedly said in 2017 that the president had “early-stage dementia,” according to former 60 Minutes producer Ira Rosen’s book Ticking Clock.
Bannon had said that Donald “had no attention span, didn't read, and now doesn't listen. He said Donald repeats himself a lot, telling the same story minutes after he told it before," per Rosen's account. Bannon has denied saying this.
Rosen also claimed that “Bannon tried to build support to have Trump removed” from office due to his worries about Trump’s cognitive health.
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Most recently, Trump’s niece, Mary Trump, a clinical psychologist, also alleged she sees signs of Alzheimer's in Trump, similar to his father, who had senile dementia for years.
Trump was reportedly friends with Epstein in the 1990s and early 2000s, with onlookers describing them as “best friends.” Trump claims he eventually cut off contact with the convicted sex offender. However, he has been named 38,000 times in the files.
Last year, Trump wrote on Truth Social that he has “never felt better,” but speculation about Trump’s health has been rampant on social media, given the bruises on his hands, swelling on his ankles, and bizarre behavior during press events.