During a NATO summit on Wednesday, former President Donald Trump made two notable verbal gaffes that have reignited discussions about his health. The incidents occurred while he was speaking alongside Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
Trump misstated the country of Iran when discussing missile defense capabilities, saying, "We had 111 missiles shot by the Islamic Republic of Japan." He then continued without acknowledging the error. A pro-Ukraine social media account criticized Trump, who is 80 years old, suggesting cognitive decline and stating, "Trump's dementia is profound." Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker had also voiced similar concerns about Trump's mental state in the previous week.
Later in the summit, Trump appeared to confuse Russian President Vladimir Putin with President Zelensky. While gesturing towards Zelensky, Trump asked a reporter, "Do you have a question for President Putin?" After a brief pause, he seemed to realize his mistake but then reiterated the question about Putin, stating he planned to speak with him later that day.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt defended Trump's performance, stating he had a "marathon, high-energy performance at the NATO summit." Leavitt added that Trump "commanded every room, gave our allies some much-needed tough love, and left the summit with a stronger NATO and more united free world."
Trump, who is the oldest person ever elected president, has faced scrutiny regarding his health during his second term. Previous concerns have cited visible swelling in his legs, bruising on his hands, and instances of appearing to doze off in public.
The White House has attributed the leg swelling to chronic venous insufficiency, a common circulatory condition in older individuals. The hand bruising has been explained as a result of frequent handshakes and regular aspirin use. Those close to Trump have denied he struggles with sleepiness, with Secretary of State Marco Rubio stating in June that he had "never seen him fall asleep" and that Trump often contacted him in the early morning hours.
