“I Have No Cognitive”: Trump’s Slip-up Sparks Online Mockery and Criticism

Former President Donald Trump found himself at the center of ridicule after repeatedly insisting during a town hall in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, on Sunday that he has “no cognitive,” without finishing his sentence, seemingly intending to say he had no cognitive problems. His incomplete statements, combined with his jabs at President Joe Biden’s age, quickly drew mockery from political commentators and critics online.

During the town hall, which was held while Trump, 78, was seated, the former president addressed questions from the audience and took shots at Biden, who is two years older than him. Trump made it clear that he believes age is a relevant factor in assessing Biden’s fitness for office, saying, “I’m not 80 and I’m not that close to 80.”

This remark was aimed at emphasizing the president’s advanced age, but it was another statement from Trump that truly captured the attention of onlookers. “I have no cognitive,” Trump declared at one point during the event. He followed up this incomplete sentence with, “She might have a cognitive problem. There’s no cognitive problem,” though it was unclear to whom he was referring. Moments later, he again stated, “I’ve got no cognitive,” but once more failed to finish his sentence.

The repeated slip-ups left many questioning what Trump was attempting to convey and fueled a wave of online reactions. Vice President Kamala Harris’ campaign seized the opportunity to highlight the gaffe. The Harris-Walz 2024 campaign quoted Trump on social media and followed it up with a press release that took aim at the former president’s cognitive abilities.

“Today Pennsylvanians got a firsthand look at why Donald Trump’s handlers are canceling events and interviews: in a single town hall, he incoherently rambled that he has ‘no cognitive’ and appeared to forget his own age,” said Sarafina Chitika, spokesperson for the campaign. “The American people deserve a president who will fight tirelessly for them — not one too ‘exhausted’ to focus on anything but himself.”

The slip-up spread quickly across social media, with liberal commentators and influencers mocking Trump’s inability to complete his thoughts. One popular account, @AesPolitics1, remarked, “Old man can’t even finish a sentence.”

Artist Art Candee sarcastically challenged Trump to “release your medical report then!” alluding to questions about the former president’s health that have surfaced multiple times throughout his political career. Meanwhile, another influencer, Spiro’s Ghost, tweeted, “BEST WORDS. GOOD BRAIN. Imagine saying you have no cognitive problems while misspeaking like this. His brain is so broken.”

Even some Republicans who oppose Trump voiced their concerns. The account for a group of anti-Trump Republicans simply stated, “Trump is not well,” joining the chorus of criticism. The incident has brought renewed attention to the ongoing conversation surrounding the fitness of both Trump and Biden, as age and cognitive ability have become frequent topics of debate in the 2024 presidential election.

For Trump, who often touts his mental sharpness, Sunday’s town hall slip-up offered a stark contrast to his usual rhetoric, leaving many to question whether his missteps will have lasting political consequences.