Trump Can't Seem to Recall 'Alzheimer's' While Insisting He Doesn't Have the Condition

In a pointed moment during a health interview, US President Donald Trump could not recall the term 'Alzheimer's' while describing his father's illness, even as he vigorously insisted that he himself does not have the condition.

The 79-year-old president made the remark in a sit-down with New York Magazine journalist Ben Terris, an interview that has become a focal point in an intensifying public discussion on his cognitive health.

Trump's struggle to retrieve the word for a disease most commonly associated with memory loss occurred as he pressed officials for more favourable coverage of his health, saying he feels as energised as he did four decades ago.

Awkward Memory Lapse in Published Interview

The exchange occurred in the Oval Office, when Trump recalled his father's health journey, real estate developer Frederick 'Fred' Trump, who lived until age 93.

Trump said his father had been healthy until his late 80s, then paused and asked: 'He had one problem. At a certain age... what do they call it?' while pointing to his head.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt supplied the term 'Alzheimer's'. Trump adopted it and said: 'Like an Alzheimer's thing... Well, I don't have it.'

When pressed on whether the condition is something he thinks about, given his family history, Trump replied: 'No, I don't think about it at all... my attitude is whatever.'

This moment was captured in the published interview and video excerpts, which have circulated widely across news coverage and social platforms.

Past Medical Reports and Cognitive Evaluations

Trump has repeatedly asserted that he remains mentally fit despite his advancing age, citing positive results from cognitive tests. In April 2025, his physician, Dr Sean Barbabella, released a summary of a comprehensive physical exam stating that Trump scored perfectly on the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), a widely used screening tool for cognitive impairment.

White House officials have used that result to assert his fitness for office while declining to release full medical records. At a public event following the exam, Trump told reporters that he 'got every answer right' on the cognitive portion.

In late 2025, the White House also released details of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans of Trump's cardiovascular and abdominal systems, which his physician described as 'perfectly normal,' and said he had 'aced' a cognitive test, though it was unclear if that test was part of the October MRI evaluation.

Despite these positive summaries, health transparency advocates note that much of Trump's detailed medical documentation remains private, and there has been no independent, peer-reviewed review of his neurological health.

Family History and Public Speculation

The fact that Trump's own father suffered from Alzheimer's disease has added complexity to public scrutiny. Alzheimer's is the most common form of dementia, a progressive disorder affecting memory and cognition, and having a first-degree relative with the condition can increase risk, although it does not mean a person will develop it themselves.

Trump's remarks come amid years of public speculation about his cognitive condition, often fuelled by his off-the-cuff comments, shifts in topic during speeches, and social media commentary. While political opponents and late-night commentators have highlighted moments of verbal confusion or memory slip-ups, these analyses are not formal clinical evaluations.

The New York Magazine interview itself reflects that tension. According to social media posts by reporter Ben Terris, Trump was visibly prepared for questions on his health, and the tone suggested a defensive posture toward prospective criticism.

Historical Context of Presidential Health Transparency

Trump's approach to medical transparency echoes patterns seen earlier in his political career. During his 2016 campaign, his personal physician, Dr Harold Bornstein, issued a famously glowing and succinct letter declaring Trump would be 'the healthiest individual ever elected to the presidency,' a document later revealed by Bornstein to have been dictated by Trump himself.

That episode contributed to ongoing debates about the adequacy of health disclosures by presidential candidates and officeholders. Polling data over the past few years has shown that a significant portion of the electorate considers mental fitness and age among the top factors in evaluating leaders.

As Trump approaches 80, questions around his memory and cognitive health will likely remain salient, particularly amid partisan contestation in the lead-up to elections.

The Alzheimer's moment in the New York Magazine interview has reignited scrutiny over whether the public has enough factual, direct information to assess the wellness of its oldest sitting president.

Trump's memory lapse and denial sharpen national focus on presidential health transparency.