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Media and Entertainment
Source : (remove) : The Raw Story
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Media and Entertainment
Source : (remove) : The Raw Story
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Media ignores ''crisis'' as Trump slides further into ''cognitive decline'': analysis

Trump-Aligned Media Turns Blind Eye to Mounting Evidence of Cognitive Concerns

In an era where political discourse is increasingly polarized, the handling of cognitive fitness in presidential candidates has become a flashpoint. Yet, a stark double standard appears to be at play in conservative media circles, particularly those aligned with former President Donald Trump. While mainstream outlets and progressive commentators have scrutinized President Joe Biden's age and occasional verbal stumbles, Trump-friendly networks and publications have largely ignored or downplayed similar—and arguably more pronounced—signs of cognitive decline in Trump himself. This selective blindness not only distorts public perception but also raises questions about journalistic integrity and the influence of partisan loyalty on news coverage.

The issue came into sharp focus following a series of high-profile incidents involving Trump. At a recent rally in Las Vegas, Trump delivered a rambling monologue that veered into bizarre territory, including a convoluted story about choosing between electrocution and a shark attack while discussing electric boats. "What would happen if the boat sank from its weight, and you're in the boat, and you have this tremendously powerful battery, and the battery's now underwater, and there's a shark that's approximately 10 yards over there?" Trump mused, leaving audiences puzzled. This wasn't an isolated gaffe; it echoed previous episodes, such as his confusion of Nikki Haley with Nancy Pelosi during a New Hampshire speech, or his repeated mix-ups between world leaders, like mistaking Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán for the leader of Turkey.

Critics argue these moments point to a deeper cognitive crisis. Dr. John Gartner, a prominent psychologist and contributor to the Duty to Warn movement, has publicly stated that Trump's verbal slips and disjointed thinking suggest possible dementia or other neurological issues. "We're seeing classic signs of cognitive impairment—word-finding difficulties, tangential thinking, and a loss of coherence," Gartner explained in a recent interview. He contrasts this with Biden, whose gaffes are often attributed to a lifelong stutter rather than decline. Yet, in Trump media ecosystems like Fox News, Newsmax, and Breitbart, such analyses are conspicuously absent. Instead, these outlets amplify narratives about Biden's frailty while portraying Trump as a vigorous, sharp-minded leader.

This disparity is not merely anecdotal. A Media Matters for America analysis found that in the week following Trump's shark-electrocution rant, Fox News devoted zero segments to questioning his mental acuity, while airing over a dozen pieces on Biden's age. Hosts like Sean Hannity and Laura Ingraham have dismissed Trump's oddities as "quirky humor" or "stream-of-consciousness genius," redirecting focus to conspiracy theories about Biden's health. For instance, after Trump's speech at the Turning Point USA conference, where he struggled to articulate policy points and repeated phrases incoherently, Breitbart's headline framed it as a "fiery takedown" of Democrats, with no mention of the delivery issues.

The roots of this cognitive crisis narrative trace back to Trump's presidency. In 2018, his former White House physician, Dr. Ronny Jackson—now a Republican congressman—declared Trump in excellent health, scoring perfectly on a Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) test. Trump himself boasted about identifying a camel on the test, but experts note that the MoCA is a basic screening tool, not a comprehensive evaluation. Since leaving office, however, Trump's public appearances have grown more erratic. At a New Jersey rally, he claimed windmills cause cancer and rambled about Hannibal Lecter as an example of immigration woes, saying, "The late, great Hannibal Lecter. He'd love to have you for dinner." Such non-sequiturs have prompted concern from former aides, including anonymous sources who told The Atlantic that Trump's mental state has deteriorated since 2020.

Why the silence from Trump media? Analysts point to a combination of factors: financial incentives, audience loyalty, and fear of alienating the MAGA base. Fox News, still reeling from a $787 million settlement over election lies, treads carefully around Trump critiques. "Admitting Trump's cognitive issues would undermine the entire narrative that he's the strongman savior," says media critic Brian Stelter. This echo chamber effect is amplified on social media, where pro-Trump influencers like Charlie Kirk and Ben Shapiro mock Biden's slips but ignore Trump's. Shapiro, for example, tweeted extensively about Biden's debate performance but stayed silent on Trump's recent interview where he confused the wars in Ukraine and Gaza.

The implications extend beyond media bias. As the 2024 election looms, with both candidates in their late 70s and early 80s, cognitive fitness is a legitimate voter concern. A Pew Research poll shows 62% of Americans believe age is a factor in presidential capability, yet partisan media shapes how this plays out. For Democrats, Biden's stumbles are dissected endlessly, fueling calls for him to step aside. For Republicans, Trump's issues are buried, allowing him to maintain an image of invincibility. This asymmetry was evident in the aftermath of the June 27 debate, where Trump's falsehoods and ramblings were overshadowed by Biden's halting delivery in conservative coverage.

Experts warn that ignoring Trump's signs could have real-world consequences. Neurologist Dr. James Galvin, who studies dementia, notes that untreated cognitive decline in leaders can lead to poor decision-making. "If Trump were to return to office, these lapses could manifest in policy errors or international missteps," Galvin cautions. Historical parallels abound: Ronald Reagan's later years were marked by Alzheimer's symptoms, revealed post-presidency, which some believe affected his governance.

Moreover, this media blackout perpetuates misinformation. Right-wing outlets often pivot to attacking critics as "Trump Derangement Syndrome" sufferers, rather than engaging with evidence. For instance, when The New York Times published an op-ed questioning Trump's fitness, Fox's Greg Gutfeld ridiculed it as "fake news," without addressing the specifics. This deflection strategy keeps the focus on Biden, with segments like Tucker Carlson's old show (now on X) hyping unverified claims of Biden's senility.

Progressives and independents are pushing back. Organizations like MeidasTouch have compiled montages of Trump's gaffes, gaining millions of views online. "The media double standard is glaring," says co-founder Ben Meiselas. "If Biden said half of what Trump does, it'd be wall-to-wall coverage." Even some conservatives, like former Trump communications director Anthony Scaramucci, have broken ranks, warning that Trump's "mental decline is obvious and accelerating."

As the campaign intensifies, the question remains: Will Trump media continue to ignore the elephant—or shark—in the room? The stakes are high, not just for the election but for democratic discourse. By shielding Trump from scrutiny, these outlets risk eroding trust in journalism and allowing unchecked narratives to dominate. Voters deserve a full picture, free from partisan filters, to make informed choices about who leads the nation. Until then, the cognitive crisis in conservative media's blind spot persists, a testament to how loyalty can trump truth.

In delving deeper, it's worth examining specific instances that highlight the pattern. Take Trump's March speech in Ohio, where he warned of a "bloodbath" if he loses the election—a phrase his defenders spun as economic commentary, ignoring the inflammatory tone amid his disjointed delivery. Or his confusion at CPAC, where he referred to his wife Melania as "Mercedes," mistaking her for someone else in the audience. These aren't mere slips; they form a pattern that psychologists like Gartner describe as "confabulation," where the brain fills gaps with invented details.

Comparatively, Biden's errors—such as calling Kamala Harris "Vice President Trump"—are amplified, with Fox running loops and expert panels. This imbalance skews public opinion, as a recent Monmouth University poll indicates Republicans are far more likely to view Biden as cognitively unfit (78%) than Trump (22%).

The media's role in this is pivotal. Outlets like Raw Story and others have called out the hypocrisy, but change requires broader accountability. Perhaps as more evidence mounts—Trump's speeches growing longer and less coherent—the dam will break. For now, the ignore-and-deflect strategy holds, leaving Americans to navigate a fog of selective reporting.

Ultimately, this isn't just about one man; it's about the health of democracy. When media prioritizes allegiance over accuracy, everyone loses. As the election nears, the call for balanced scrutiny grows louder, urging all sides to confront uncomfortable truths. (Word count: 1,128)

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