Former President Donald Trump, the leading contender for the GOP nomination, addressed concerns about his mental acuity during a rally in New Hampshire. The issue was raised by his primary opponent in the state, former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley, who expressed worries about Trump’s mental fitness after he seemingly confused her with former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi during a discussion about the events of January 6, 2021.
Trump, known for his reliance on sarcasm in speeches, dismissed the criticism and highlighted his success in a cognitive test taken a few months prior. During the rally, he explained, “A lot of times I’ll say that President Obama is doing a lousy job, meaning that Obama is running the show. They’ll say, Donald Trump doesn’t know who our president is. No, no. A few months ago I took a cognitive test my doctor gave me, I said give me a cognitive test just we can, you know, and I aced it. I also took one when I was in the White House.”
The 45th president, who frequently questions President Biden’s cognitive abilities, reiterated his claims about Biden being “cognitively impaired” and unfit for leadership.
After the recent mix-up involving Haley and Pelosi, the former U.N. Ambassador expressed concerns about having a president whose mental fitness is in question. Trump responded during the Saturday rally, stating, “I’ll let you know when I go bad. I really [don’t] think I will be able to tell you because someday we go bad.”
Refuting Haley’s remarks, Trump emphasized that he doesn’t mind his age, countering her call for “mandatory competency” tests for politicians over 75. He stated, “They always say, like Haley, she talks about, ‘yeah, we don’t need 80-year-old.’ Well, I don’t mind being 80, but I am 77, that’s a big difference.”
Rep. Elise Stefanik, a Trump endorsee rumored for a potential vice presidential pick, defended Trump against Haley’s concerns, suggesting that Haley relies on Democrats to create a negative narrative.
In the past, Trump has been noted for mixing up names, including Biden and Obama, raising questions about his mental sharpness.
