Donald Trump recently posted an AI-generated image of himself as the Pope. In it, he sits in papal robes, white-clad and regal, raising a finger like a holy emperor. Many dismissed it as a joke. But for those paying attention to the patterns, it may be something else entirely: a warning.
I’ve seen this behavior before—up close. My sister, who lovingly insists we call her “Princess” (and she does act like one!), was living independently, driving, shopping, enjoying her life. Then in December of 2023, everything changed. She had a sudden episode, was hospitalized, and came home with a diagnosis: dementia.
Now, just over a year later, she needs 24/7 care.
The speed of her decline was shocking. And as I’ve adjusted to the heartbreaking new reality of caring for her full-time, I’ve started to notice something profoundly disturbing: Donald Trump exhibits many of the same symptoms.
The repetition. The confusion. The fixation on the past. The wild emotional swings. The delusions of grandeur. I see them in “Princess,” and I see them in Trump. But here’s the difference: my sister is lovingly supervised and no longer allowed to drive. Trump is attempting to take the wheel of the entire country.
🧠 What Are the Signs of Dementia?
Medical professionals use a well-established list of 10 early warning signs of dementia. Here’s that checklist—alongside examples from Trump’s public behavior.
Symptom
What It Means
What Trump Has Done
Memory Loss
Forgetting names, events, repeating things often
Frequently forgets names and facts, repeats claims even after correction
Problem Solving Decline
Trouble planning, organizing, or completing logical tasks
Can’t follow steps, manage tasks, or stay on topic
Rambles in speeches, struggles with coherent organization of ideas
Trump shared this AI-generated image of himself as the Pope on Truth Social on May 2, 2025—just days after Pope Francis’ death. Critics called it blasphemous and disturbing. Others saw it as a symptom of grandiose delusion.
🤡 “I Was Just Joking”: When Deflection Becomes a Danger
When my sister Louise began showing signs of dementia, her personality changed. Suddenly, she demanded to be called “Princess.” When I gently called her out, she laughed and said, “Oh, I was just joking!” But over time, it became clear—it wasn’t a joke. It was a defense mechanism. A shield against a world she no longer fully understood.
Donald Trump uses the exact phrase. Over and over again, when his statements spark outrage—whether suggesting injecting bleach, calling for terminating parts of the Constitution, or promoting himself as a divine figure—he dismisses the backlash with “I was joking!”
But here’s the difference: Presidents don’t get to joke about serious things.
The stock market doesn’t know when he’s kidding. Foreign leaders don’t know when he’s bluffing. His followers don’t take it as a joke—they take it as gospel. The rest of the country takes it as a threat.
In a position where every word moves global markets, impacts national security, or inspires violence, saying “just kidding” after every outburst is not just irresponsible—it’s dangerous. And when that pattern mimics the behavior of someone with cognitive decline, it’s time to stop laughing and ask real questions.
🧩 Why This Matters
This isn’t about mocking cognitive illness—it’s about confronting reality.
If Louise, my precious Princess, is considered too impaired to manage her own money, drive, or live alone… how can we ignore that Trump exhibits many of the same warning signs while positioning himself to control nuclear weapons, federal agencies, and the courts?
Louise wasn’t always like this. Her sudden shift shocked everyone. One day she was independent—sharp, funny, proud. Then came the episode, the hospital, the diagnosis. And since then, her entire sense of self has changed. That identity gives her a sense of safety, meaning, and control in a world rapidly unraveling inside her mind.
And that’s the comparison we must make. When Trump claims he’s like Jesus, calls himself the chosen one, or posts AI images of himself as the Pope, it’s not just politics. It’s not just narcissism. It may be neurological deterioration on full display.
We’re not diagnosing. We’re observing. And what we see should alarm every American, regardless of party.
And it’s not just about Trump. Behind him is Project 2025—a sweeping plan years in the making, designed to dismantle American democracy and replace it with permanent authoritarian rule. While we laugh at his Pope cosplay, his movement is hard at work trying to crown him king.
✊ What You Can Do Today
Share this article and the checklist with people you love
Talk openly about mental fitness in leadership
Ask questions, speak out, and don’t look away
Support responsible journalism, democracy, and truth
Remember: even a “Princess” can fall quickly—and so can a nation
Image Credit: AI-generated image posted by Donald Trump on Truth Social, May 2, 2025 Sources: Alzheimer’s Association, UCSF Memory Center, Mayo Clinic, Reuters, People Magazine, CBS News, Mindsitenews.org
Tags: Trump behavior, dementia awareness, cognitive decline, Project 2025, mental health in leadership, authoritarianism in America, just joking defense, presidency and truth, Princess Louise, Trump as the Pope, AI-generated delusion, neurological warning signs, family caregiving and mental illness, elephants in our rooms, Dragon at the End of Time
🔗 Recommended Reads by the Authors
The 2025 Coup Already Happened—Now They Want You to Normalize It (An inside look at how Project 2025 is reshaping America in real time)
Mental Health and the Presidency: Who Holds the Mirror? (Examining the emotional and cognitive fitness required for global leadership)
When a Loved One Changes: What Dementia Taught Me About Power and Powerlessness (A personal account of caregiving, grief, and awakening)
