Why Ailing Trump Is Paranoid About Mental Decline
The Daily BeastSun, January 4, 2026 at 8:09 PM UTC
President Donald Trump has become increasingly “paranoid” about his mental decline—particularly fears it could lead to the invocation of the 25th Amendment, a psychologist told The Daily Beast Podcast. Dr. John Gartner sat down with host Joanna Coles to discuss a tell-all Wall Street Journal article in which the 79-year-old president admitted he was wearing compression socks to treat his swollen ankles and expressed frustration in the phone interview that the public was discussing his health “for the 25th time,” before announcing that his health was “perfect.” “We’re talking about it for the 25th time because people keep saying it’s 25th Amendment time,” said Gartner, referring to the constitutional provision that outlines the process for presidential succession and the transfer of power in cases of death, resignation, removal, or incapacity.