Republican insiders are now privately expressing concerns about President Donald Trump's mental fitness for office, a realization they apparently experienced sometime after the November election but well before anyone could have done anything about it.
Two-thirds of Republican K Street leaders doubt Trump's mental acuity and physical fitness to serve as president, according to survey data that suggests GOP operatives may have only recently discovered that observable reality exists. The timing of these concerns is particularly noteworthy, given that Republicans spent the previous four years relentlessly questioning Joe Biden's cognitive abilities while simultaneously championing Trump as a paragon of mental sharpness.
GOP insiders cited concerns about Trump's recent lackluster public appearances, his gait, his apparent befuddlement, his propensity to govern via Truth Social postings, his sloppy attire and his lack of engagement at the White House with others. These observations, which required the keen investigative skills of people who work closely with the president, were made despite the fact that Trump's speeches have been publicly documented as becoming increasingly incoherent throughout 2024.
Former Representative Adam Kinzinger recently warned that America could end up with a "Weekend at Bernie's president," stating "I think we have an insane president—but having an insane president that actually can't think because he's lost it." This concern appears to have crystallized after Trump secured the presidency, rather than during the period when voters might have found such information useful.
Most Americans say that Trump's health and age are affecting his ability to govern, and many believe he is experiencing a cognitive and physical decline, with polling showing these concerns have grown since the start of Trump's second term. The share of Independents saying Trump is suffering a cognitive decline has increased to 51% from 34% in October 2024.
Meanwhile, only 34% of Republicans say Trump's health and age affect his ability to fulfill the duties of his presidency, while 59% of Republicans say Trump's health and age have no effect on his presidency. This suggests that Republican voters are considerably more confident in Trump's cognitive abilities than the Republican operatives who work with him daily and are now, conveniently, sharing their concerns with journalists on background.
One GOP insider told reporters "No one is going to say anything against the president, they can't. We won't. And that's the problem", demonstrating the kind of courageous leadership that definitely won't contribute to any future constitutional crises.
The White House released Trump's physical examination results in April 2025, concluding that Trump was in "excellent health". In July 2025, the White House confirmed Trump has chronic venous insufficiency, a condition his physician described as benign despite large bruises continuing to appear on Trump's hands in August 2025.
