Concerns Grow Over President Trump’s Health and Ability to Complete Second Term
The health of the President of the United States has long been a topic of public concern—an issue that extends well beyond any single administration. Now, with President Donald Trump beginning his second term at the age of 78, questions are mounting about whether he will be physically and mentally able to serve out the remainder of his presidency.
Medical Experts Raise Concerns About President Trump’s Ability to Finish Second Term
As President Donald Trump begins his second term at the age of 78, growing concerns are emerging over his long-term health and ability to serve through to January 20, 2029—when he would be 82 years old. While questions about a president’s health are nothing new, Trump’s age and medical history are prompting heightened scrutiny.
A medical expert has warned that Trump has less than a 75% chance of completing his second term, citing age-related risks and underlying health conditions. One of the most notable concerns stems from a 2018 physical that revealed he suffers from coronary artery disease—a common but serious heart condition for men his age.
Journalist Will Neil addressed this, stating: “An earlier physical in 2018 also determined that Trump suffers from coronary artery disease, a common heart condition for men of his age.” The condition, paired with other risk factors, has led many to question his overall fitness for office.
Further doubts were raised in 2021, when reports emerged that the White House had downplayed the severity of Trump’s COVID-19 illness the year before. Neil reported: “In 2021, it was further revealed the White House had been at some pains the previous year to downplay how seriously Trump had been affected by a bout of Covid-19, which had in reality resulted in such dangerously low blood oxygen levels that officials had raised concern he would need to be placed on a ventilator.”
Another area of concern has been Trump’s weight. At the time, he was reported to weigh approximately 244 pounds—placing him in a category that increases the risk of heart disease and other age-related health complications. As Neil put it: “Trump is believed to weigh around 244 pounds.”
With age, heart conditions, and past illnesses all factoring into the equation, the conversation around Trump’s health continues to intensify as the years of his second term unfold.
Trump’s Mental Fitness Under Scrutiny as Second Term Begins
Concerns surrounding President Donald Trump’s health extend beyond the physical. Increasingly, experts and commentators are drawing attention to his cognitive abilities, pointing to a growing list of verbal slip-ups and erratic speech patterns that have raised red flags among observers.
Journalist Will Neil notes that Trump’s “cognitive performance” has been under frequent examination, particularly when he stumbles during speeches or makes notable verbal blunders. “From accidentally backing Biden as president and decrying ‘hummus’ over the war in Gaza to—well, just a generally spectacular public descent into rambling incoherence—Trump’s well-documented list of gaffes is as long as it is, frankly, terrifying at this particular moment in time,” Neil wrote.
These incidents have fueled speculation among some medical and psychological professionals, with theories ranging from early signs of dementia to traits suggestive of a narcissistic personality disorder. “Depending on which experts you ask,” Neil continued, “these verbal blunders could be a sign of anything from early symptoms of dementia to mood changes indicative of an underlying narcissistic personality disorder. Maybe both.”
While President Joe Biden has also faced criticism for verbal missteps, Neil points out that Trump’s errors may be more severe—and often go underreported in conservative media. “Far-right pundits at Fox News, Fox Business, and Newsmax have mocked Biden’s verbal gaffes relentlessly—typically while ignoring gaffes coming from Trump,” he said.
Now in his second term, Trump’s health—both mental and physical—remains a major topic of concern. Should he become unable to fulfill his duties as president, the constitutional line of succession dictates that Vice President JD Vance would assume office.