Trump's 'death penalty' remark reignites debate over his mental stability

Donald Trump is known for his controversial behaviour. During his recent court appearances, he received a lot of media attention for his personal vendettas against individuals involved in the legal proceedings. Sometimes his polemical behaviour is seen to be more than eccentric or purposefully incendiary - sometimes it is seen as a sign of failing mental capacity.

Indeed, his Republican Party opponent Nikki Haley called him out recently for having confused her with speaker Nancy Pelosi. Now, a Biden campaign has pushed a series of videos that feature Trump spouting some pretty nonsensical stuff. Let’s have a look at what he says in the clips, and how he has defended his mental stability.

Donald Trump’s ‘death penalty’ remark

One of the clips shows Trump speaking in New Hampshire. He starts mid-sentence, saying ‘Which is incapable of solvin’ even the sollest… smallest problem. The simplest of problems we can no longer solve. We are an institute in a powerful death penalty. We will put this on’. Trump often seems to have trouble articulating his thoughts clearly: at a rally on Saturday, the 77-year-old struggled to pronounce the word ‘climate’ and instead came out with ‘clime’.

The former president is aware of the concerns surrounding his mental capabilities. He has done his best to reassure voters.

Trump defends his mental stability

Trump has always said he has solid mental stability and at the same event on Saturday he reassured his supporters that he had recently done a mental fitness test:

I don’t know if you saw, but a few months ago, I took a cognitive test my doctor gave me.

The former POTUS insisted he had asked to do the test of his own volition, - and told voters he ‘aced it’. Trump also spoke out against his rival Nikki Haley. On Monday 22 January, he said on Fox News he is ‘a lot sharper than her’:

I would do this: I would sit down right now and take an aptitude test and it would be my result against her result, and she’s not going to win, not gonna even come close to winning.

As is often his way, Trump has left us with nothing but his word on this issue. Time will tell whether he comes out with any more memorable gaffes during the presidential campaign.

Read more:

⋙ Joe Biden's 'death is imminent': The truth behind democratic leader's shocking comment

⋙ Melania Trump’s mother Amalija Knavs dies age 78

⋙ Donald Trump: Tears at his civil fraud trial as witness ‘broke down on the stand’

Sources used:

Independent: Trump fuels cognitive concerns with garbled ‘death penalty’ remark

NBC: Trump confuses Nikki Haley with Nancy Pelosi when talking about Jan. 6