President Donald Trump may sit among the most powerful leaders in the world, but even he is not immune to personal fears—especially when it comes to his health.
According to Bloomberg Opinion’s senior executive editor, Timothy L. O’Brien, Trump has expressed growing concern that he could develop dementia as he ages, much like his late father, Fred Trump, who battled the condition in his later years. The possibility, sources suggest, weighs heavily on the former president’s mind.
This revelation came on May 3, during Timothy L. O’Brien’s appearance on MSNBC’s new show, The Weekend: Prime Time. Speaking about President Donald Trump—now 78 and serving his second term—O’Brien touched on the president’s recent hints about potentially pursuing a third term.
While the 22nd Amendment to the U.S. Constitution clearly prohibits anyone from serving more than two presidential terms, speculation is swirling that Trump is still seeking ways to get his name back on the ballot.
O’Brien suggested that Trump’s drive stems from either “self-preservation” or “self-aggrandizement,” even joking that the former president “would love to live until he’s 300.” Though O’Brien doesn’t believe Trump will actually run again, he feels the president desires to hold onto power for as long as possible—even if that means dreaming of a 200-year presidency.
Reflecting on Trump’s recent interviews, O’Brien observed, “One thing that really struck me is how much Donald Trump has aged. When people discuss the obstacles to a potential third term, the voters and the 22nd Amendment come to mind. But there’s also the undeniable fact that he’s turning 79 this June.”
“He lives in fear of following the same path as his father, who battled dementia and Alzheimer’s well into his 90s. That burden has weighed on him for a long time,” Timothy L. O’Brien explained.
Donald Trump’s father, Fred Trump, passed away at age 93 in 1999 due to pneumonia and complications from Alzheimer’s disease. A successful real estate developer, Fred was diagnosed with dementia eight years before his death but continued to serve as chairman of the board at Trump Management — showing remarkable dedication by coming into the office regularly.
One family friend and business associate, Richard Levy, recalled, “He came into the office every day until the day he went to the hospital.”
Meanwhile, Donald Trump has frequently commented on former President Joe Biden’s mental decline. O’Brien believes Trump fears he might face a similar fate.
“Watching Biden now compared to Trump 1.0, you notice he slurs his words, looks tired, and carries a certain weariness. He often appears slouched, and I’m not sure how much genuine enthusiasm he has for the office — other than the fact that it keeps him out of jail and in the public eye,” O’Brien observed.