Donald J. Trump walked past his presidential limousine, known as The Beast, after his rally in Dalton, Georgia, and appeared to be confused about where he was going.
The rally itself was confusing enough. He talked about a “good-looking guy,” but his exit was entirely different, as his security detail had to guide his cankled body back toward his limo. The Beast is hard to miss, but somehow Trump didn’t seem to see it, even though its door was open just feet away.
Trump’s age, declining physical fitness, and cognitive health have become issues Republicans would rather ignore. This latest incident is yet another moment prompting doubts about a president who appears unaware of his immediate surroundings — and who has access to the nuclear command codes.
Republicans spent years questioning Joe Biden’s age and mental acuity, scrutinizing his every slip and verbal misstep. Now that Trump is the oldest person ever inaugurated as president, the same people who insisted on answers about Biden’s fitness for office seem remarkably less interested in asking those questions about their own guy.
And that’s the real issue here. A confused walk to a waiting limousine doesn’t establish that someone has dementia, and a short video can’t tell us what’s happening medically. However, his ramblings, rants, and confusion happen daily. And the public has every reason to expect clarity about the health and fitness of the person holding the most powerful office in the world.
Trump’s supporters might laugh off another awkward moment, and his party might prefer to look the other way. But when it comes to the president’s ability to do his job, looking the other way is precisely the problem.
Jake Tapper, you catching any of this?