The following is not a political statement. It is a medical
one, made by individuals holding both conservative and
liberal ideologies, identifying as both Republicans and
Democrats, from different backgrounds, races, ethnicities,
and religions.
We are a group of neurologists, forensic psychiatrists,
general psychiatrists, and other physicians, along with other
mental health professionals, experienced in the diagnosis of
cognitive disorders and in evaluating dangerousness to self
and others. Among us are professionals whom the courts and
criminal justice system regularly turn to for our expert
opinion on these matters. We are also consulted by
governments in matters related to national security and the
psychological profiles of world leaders. Prior to the
presidential election in the Fall of 2024, a statement
assessing Donald J. Trump’s mental fitness for the presidency
was issued. At that time, serious signs of cognitive decline
were identified, and in our expert opinion, these signs
warranted disqualification from office.
It is our professional opinion, based on previous and
ongoing assessments, that Donald Trump’s mental state since
our 2024 statement has deteriorated even further. In keeping
with our professional ethics, and for those of us who are
physicians, with the Declaration of Geneva–the successor to
the Hippocratic Oath that binds us to the humanitarian
principles of medicine since the Nuremberg trials–we are
compelled to warn of a President of the United States who is
increasingly a danger to the public.
We do not take our statement, and the responsibility that
comes with making it, lightly.
The President was not examined face to face, and he is not
a patient of any member of our group. Rendering a formal
diagnosis in this case is not our role. We have closely
followed his behavior and his statements over the past year.
Objectively observable signs of serious medical concern
include:
Marked deterioration in cognitive functioning, evidenced by
disorganized and tangential speech, rambling digressions,
factual confusions, unexplained sudden changes of course in
strategic matters, both national and international, episodes
of apparent somnolence during critical public proceedings.
Grandiose and delusional beliefs, including assertions of
infallibility, imagery of himself as Pope suggestive of a
divine mission, being a mythical warrior hero, depicting
himself as combat pilot–dropping feces on civilians, and
claims that his decision-making authority is unlimited–with
no need to consider domestic and international laws and
constrained only by his “own morality.”
Severely impaired judgment and impulse control, reflected
in reckless threats of violence, advocacy of lethal force
against civilians, encouragement of extrajudicial actions by
armed supporters, repeated threats and often actions–
judicial, prosecutorial, police, military, and by invoking
emergency powers–against political opponents and others who
disagree with him.
Significant loss of self-control (disinhibition) and
getting stuck on the same thoughts or actions, unable to let
go or move on (perseveration), including seemingly
compulsive, manic-like late-night communications–e.g., 150
social media posts in one night–fixation on perceived
enemies, persecutory ideas, and prolonged, disproportionate
attacks on specific individuals and institutions.
Escalating violence that threatens national and global
stability. As Commander-in-Chief of our military–more than
5,000 nuclear warheads in inter-continental missile silos, on
submarines, and in bombers around the world, are ready for
launch solely upon his order, and no one now has the
authority to countermand his order… (via The Congressional Record)
