Finger Lakes Today

On Monday, during an appearance on the David Pakman Show, Harry Segal, a senior lecturer in psychology at Cornell University, expressed concerns about Donald Trump's mental state. Segal, who has been critical of Trump's mental health since his time in office, stated, "I think of this cognitive decline as being another layer of danger on top of an already erratic, mentally challenged person who shouldn't be anywhere near the White House."

Segal highlighted specific behaviors in Trump, mentioning, "This is something that's been observed in many people suffering from early stages of dementia—and that's called sundowning." He also pointed out changes in Trump's language complexity, noting, "it's almost like he's gumming together phrases that he repeats over and over again."

Regarding Joe Biden, who has faced scrutiny over his age and mental acuity, Segal remarked, "If I were concerned about Joe Biden's cognitive abilities, I would be saying it with as much alarm as I am about Trump." He further praised Biden's recent performance at the State of the Union address, stating, "You can't do that if you're suffering from major cognitive impairments."

In contrast to Biden, Segal expressed his worries about Trump's condition, stating, "But to me, Trump looks like he's faltering in a very dangerous way." Segal emphasized that his observations were based on behavior rather than personal political views.

Despite conflicting opinions on the mental acuity of both Trump and Biden, the conversation around their capabilities remains a topic of discussion among mental health professionals and the public.