Forensic Psychologist Assesses Donald Trump's Public Speeches for Potential 'Neurological Issues'

Dr. John Paul Garrison, a clinical and forensic psychologist who hosts the YouTube channel Dr. G Explains, discussed footage from Trump's Aug. 28 appearance at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston.

Garrison said one sequence of movements appeared potentially consistent with a focal seizure or another neurological event, while stressing that he was not diagnosing the president.

Garrison is a clinical and forensic psychologist, not Trump's treating physician or a neurologist who has examined him. His comments are based strictly on publicly available video footage, and there is no public medical evidence confirming that Trump experienced a seizure, stroke, or other neurological disorder.

Trump, 80, underwent a medical evaluation at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center earlier this year. A report released by the White House on May 29, 2026, by Physician to the President Dr. Sean P. Barbabella, stated that Trump remained in 'excellent health,' with strong cardiac, pulmonary, and neurological function.

The report noted a normal neurological examination, including mental status, cranial nerves, motor strength, sensation, reflexes, gait, and balance, and recorded a score of 30 out of 30 on the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA).

Analysis of NASA Speech Footage

Garrison's video focuses on footage from Trump's remarks at a ceremony honoring the Artemis II astronauts at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston on August 28. He described a moment in which he believed a movement appeared to travel from Trump's right arm to his eyes, then to his voice, before affecting his left arm.

'To be very clear, these were not simple muscle spasms,' Garrison said in the video, stating he believed the pattern appeared consistent with movements seen in individuals experiencing a focal motor seizure or post-stroke behavior.

Garrison repeatedly emphasized that he was not diagnosing the President, framing his commentary as a theoretical interpretation of video footage rather than a clinical diagnosis.

TikTok Video and Speech Patterns

Garrison also examined other recent moments, including an August 27 TikTok video where Trump crossed out 'Lake Ontario' on a map and wrote 'Lake America,' the same day he signed an executive order directing the renaming amid trade tensions with Canada. Garrison highlighted unusual facial movements and jaw motions in the clip, expressing his view that they could point to motor or speech struggles.

Additionally, Garrison cited Trump's phrasing, 'Because we have the Gulf of America, now we have Lake America without the of,' as a statement that might indicate difficulty filtering thoughts. He noted other signs, including tongue movements, looking down to the left, and elbow jerks, which he argued could be associated with verbal and motor dysfunction.

Examining rally footage, Garrison pointed out instances where Trump appeared to stumble over words including 'thank you,' 'instead,' and 'Clinton' on multiple occasions. While acknowledging that anyone can misspeak, Garrison argued that the frequency and pattern raised theoretical questions regarding post-stroke behavior.

Official Medical Record and Context

Questions regarding Trump's health have circulated for months, but official medical documentation presents a contrasting baseline. The May 29, 2026 White House report by Dr. Barbabella detailed a normal neurological examination and a 30 out of 30 score on the MoCA screening test.

While a 30/30 MoCA score indicates no cognitive impairment was detected on that screening test, medical experts note that such screening tests are not designed to diagnose or rule out every potential neurological condition.

Garrison raised several theoretical possibilities regarding the motor and speech patterns he observed, including forms of cognitive impairment, while emphasizing that he was discussing theoretical concepts rather than making a diagnosis.

'There are a variety of reasons that someone may be exhibiting these neurological symptoms,' Garrison said, offering his view that the patterns reflect ongoing difficulty.

Garrison's observations have not been independently verified, and he has not examined Trump or diagnosed him with a neurological disorder. The movements and speech patterns discussed in his video can have multiple possible explanations, and video footage alone cannot establish a medical diagnosis.

Trump's most recent publicly released medical evaluation reported a normal neurological examination and a perfect score on the Montreal Cognitive Assessment.

As of this writing, IBTimes UK cannot independently verify Garrison's interpretations.