Donald Trump drew fresh scrutiny over his public remarks Wednesday after making two notable verbal missteps while appearing alongside Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at a NATO summit.
In one exchange, Trump appeared to incorrectly identify Iran while discussing U.S. missile defense capabilities.
“We had 111 missiles shot by the Islamic Republic of Japan,” he said, before continuing without pause and saying that all of the missiles had been intercepted.
The remark quickly circulated online, where a pro-Ukraine account on X criticized Trump, 80, and suggested it reflected cognitive decline. Michael MacKay, who holds a PhD from the London School of Economics, wrote: “Trump’s dementia is profound.”
The comments came shortly after Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker told CNN last week that he believed Trump was showing signs of the condition.
Later in the same appearance, Trump seemed to mix up the leaders of Russia and Ukraine.
Gesturing toward Zelensky, Trump turned to a reporter in the room and asked: “Do you have a question for President Putin?”
After a brief pause, Trump appeared to realize the error, then seemed to brush off the moment with a joke.
US President Donald Trump committed the gaffes while taking questions alongside Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky (L)
When a reporter appeared to try to ask Zelensky a question, Trump spoke over him with a slight smile.
‘Do you have a question for President Putin?’ Trump asked again. ‘Yeah, what would you like to ask [Putin]? Because I’m gonna ask him that question.’
Trump said he was making a call with Putin later in the day and continued to insist on a question for the Russian strongman until he got one a few seconds later.
The White House touted Trump’s stamina and fitness when contacted by the Daily Mail.
‘President Trump delivered a marathon, high-energy performance at the NATO summit, holding four separate press availabilities plus a solo press conference and taking unscripted questions from reporters on a wide range of topics,’ White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said in a statement.
‘The President commanded every room, gave our allies some much-needed tough love, and left the summit with a stronger NATO and more united free world.’
Trump has faced a slew of medical concerns during his second term after frequently calling into question the health of his predecessor ‘Sleepy’ Joe Biden.
There has been visible swelling in his legs, bruising on his hands, and several instances of appearing to briefly doze off in public.
The White House has attributed the bruising to frequent handshakes and regular aspirin usage (pictured in Davos, Switzerland, on January 22)
President Trump closes his eyes in the Oval Office on April 18
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Trump has at times used makeup and bandages to conceal the bruising on his hand (pictured at the White House on May 6)
The White House has said the swelling in Trump’s legs is due to a condition called chronic venous insufficiency, a relatively common circulatory problem in older patients.
The bruising on the President’s hands, which he has at times tried to conceal, has been attributed to regular aspirin usage and frequent handshakes, though bruising has appeared on both of the President’s hands.
Those in the President’s orbit have denied that he struggles to stay awake.
‘I’ve never seen him fall asleep,’ Secretary of State Marco Rubio said in a congressional hearing in June, adding that the President often calls him in the wee hours of the morning.
Trump is the oldest person ever elected to the presidency, beating his predecessor Joe Biden by some five months.
