Mary Trump, niece of U.S. President Donald Trump, has expressed concern over her uncle’s mental and physical health. She sees parallels between his behavior and that of her grandfather, Fred Trump, who had Alzheimer’s disease.
Speaking on the Court of History podcast, Mary Trump described her observations of the 79-year-old president’s behavior. She noted signs of confusion and forgetfulness, which she compared to her grandfather’s early Alzheimer’s symptoms.
“I think the most important thing to know about Donald’s health is that he has had serious psychiatric disorders that went undiagnosed,” she said. “These conditions have worsened over time and influence what we see now.”
Mary Trump added that in addition to psychiatric concerns, there are physical health issues. “It seems he’s not just forgetting things. He sometimes appears disoriented in space and time,” she said, explaining the similarities with her grandfather.
She recalled how her grandfather, Fred Trump, would forget people who were less important to him, but never forgot Donald. “That was always fascinating. He ended up forgetting my grandmother but never Donald,” she said.
Mary Trump has authored three bestsellers since her uncle became president. Her books include Too Much and Never Enough (2020), The Reckoning (2021), and Who Could Ever Love You (2024). All three examine Trump family dynamics and his behavior.
She compared her uncle and grandfather, noting differences. “My grandfather was a born sociopath. Donald’s psychology is more complex. Much of what we see now is worsening of earlier conditions,” she explained.
Mary Trump described the difficulty of distinguishing psychiatric disorders from possible dementia. “Is it psychiatric, Alzheimer’s, or another physical ailment affecting memory? We don’t know, and likely never will,” she said.
She emphasized the president’s behavior may continue to worsen. “There is no worst. He will always get worse,” she added, highlighting the risks to public perception and governance.
Donald Trump is the oldest person to assume the U.S. presidency, surpassing Joe Biden. His erratic public appearances and recent time away from view fueled questions about his health and cognitive state.
The White House has denied any health concerns. Trump recently reappeared to dismiss speculation, including rumors about his wellbeing, and angrily rejected questions regarding the Jeffrey Epstein scandal.
Mary Trump highlighted her uncle’s longstanding anger and performative rage. “He uses threats and anger to get his way. It is hard to tell what is sincere and what is performative,” she said, linking these behaviors to stress and fear.
She warned that early insight into cognitive decline can increase fear and cruelty. “People with Alzheimer’s have moments of insight. This can be one of the cruelest aspects, as it freaks them out,” she said, noting similar patterns in Donald Trump.
Mary Trump described moments of visible confusion. “There are looks on his face, like a deer in headlights. Sometimes he seems startled and unsure where he is. I see that in his eyes,” she said.
The niece of the president concluded that the United States faces a dangerous point regarding his health. She called attention to the combination of psychiatric, emotional, and physical factors affecting his behavior and decision-making.
