MSNBC's Joe Scarborough suggests Trump has dementia

MSNBC's Joe Scarborough claimed on Thursday that allies of President Trump questioned Trump's mental state during the 2016 presidential campaign. "People close to him during the campaign told me [he] has early stages of dementia," Scarborough said during Thursday's Morning Joe. Scarborough's co-host and fianceé Mika Brzezinski then added, "You can say that's not okay to say, but at this point it's reality."
Trump's mental health has been a topic of debate pretty much since he began his campaign. In August, long before Trump taunted North Korean leader Kim Jong Un by all but calling him "short and fat," or implied that Scarborough may have killed one of his own interns, Sen. Bob Corker (R-Tenn.) said "the president has not yet been able to demonstrate the stability nor some of the competence that he needs to demonstrate in order to be successful."
Public chatter on the topic has grown louder in the last few days following reports from both The New York Times and The Washington Post claiming that the president seems to believe the Access Hollywood recording of him bragging about sexually assaulting women is not actually of him. When the recording was first released last year, then-candidate Trump confirmed its authenticity just hours after its release. "I said it, I was wrong, and I apologize," he said.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Some experts have steered clear of commenting on the topic of Trump's mental stability, citing the "Goldwater rule" — which prevents mental health professionals from speculating on the mental health of public figures without examination and permission to publicly discuss their diagnosis. But others have been less shy, very publicly suggesting that Trump's behavior exhibits signs of cognitive decline, narcissistic personality disorder, and even sociopathy.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Kelly O'Meara Morales is a staff writer at The Week. He graduated from Sarah Lawrence College and studied Middle Eastern history and nonfiction writing amongst other esoteric subjects. When not compulsively checking Twitter, he writes and records music, subsists on tacos, and watches basketball.
-
Alterations: 'riveting' 1970s tailoring comedy is a lot of fun
The Week Recommends 'Retro gem' from the National Theatre's Black Plays Archive 'springs into life' from the start
By The Week UK Published
-
Has World Book Day become a 'horror show'?
Talking Point Annual event to encourage children to read for pleasure is sore spot for parents under 'growing pressure' to create character costumes
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Festival of Sport announces exciting media partnership with The Week Junior
Festival of Sport, the UK’s premier family-friendly sports festival, has officially teamed up with The Week Junior as its exclusive media partner.
By The Week Junior Published
-
Trump touts early wins in partisan speech to Congress
Speed Read The president said he is 'just getting started' with his sweeping changes to immigration, the economy and foreign policy
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Trudeau blasts Trump's 'very dumb' trade war
Speed Read Retaliatory measures have been announced by America's largest trading partners following Trump's tariffs on Canada, Mexico and China
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Trump pauses military aid to Ukraine after public spat
Speed Read Trump and J.D. Vance berated Volodymyr Zelenskyy for what they saw as insufficient gratitude
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Trump's Mexico and Canada tariffs begin, roiling markets
Speed Read Stocks plunged after Trump affirmed that the tariffs would take effect, sparking a likely trade war
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Judge tells White House to stop ordering mass firings
speed read The ruling is a complication in the Trump administration's plans to slash the federal workforce
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Trump vows 25% tariffs on EU at Cabinet meeting
Speed Read The tariff threats serve to enhance a growing suspicion that the president views Europe as an adversary, not an ally
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Trump proposes 'gold card' visas for rich immigrants
speed read The president claimed the US will begin selling $5 million visas offering permanent residency
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
House passes framework for big tax and spending cuts
Speed Read Democrats opposed the GOP's plan for $4.5 trillion in tax cuts and $2 trillion in spending cuts, citing the impacts it will have on social programs
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published