# Is President Trump suddenly Getting Worse? **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [January 12, 2018, 4:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-president-trump-suddenly-getting-worse/806444 "2018-01-12T04:54:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 12
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2018, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-president-trump-suddenly-getting-worse/806444/221 "2018-01-17T18:02:27Z")
> [@running\_coach](#): > > I’m no doctor but I can diagnose (and initiate on the spot treatment) a broken leg, sucking chest wound or arterial bleeding. I can try to sustain some who’s heart has stopped. Are you saying I should wait for a doctor to arrive to make a diagnosis? Who is more likely to make an accurate diagnosis - a doctor who examines the patient and says “this patient shows no signs of arterial bleeding” or a doctor who has never met the patient? Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2018, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-president-trump-suddenly-getting-worse/806444/222 "2018-01-17T18:46:14Z")
> [@Shodan](#): > > Who is more likely to make an accurate diagnosis - a doctor who examines the patient and says “this patient shows no signs of arterial bleeding” or a doctor who has never met the patient? > > Regards, > Shodan How about a doctor who has never met the patient in person but who has seen the patient bleed on live tv several times a day for a year? No regards, ThelmaLou ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2018, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-president-trump-suddenly-getting-worse/806444/223 "2018-01-17T18:53:43Z")
> [@ThelmaLou](#): > > How about a doctor who has never met the patient in person but who has seen the patient bleed on live tv several times a day for a year? Over a doctor who has actually examined the patient? The second, obviously. The facility with which the SDMB flip-flops on its commitment to facts is endlessly entertaining. Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![Buck\_Godot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/buck_godot/32/6573_2.png) [@Buck\_Godot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Buck_Godot)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2018, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-president-trump-suddenly-getting-worse/806444/224 "2018-01-17T19:18:56Z")
> [@octopus](#): > > Are you engaging in fat shaming? Not really. We’re mostly lie shaming. I don’t think there would be nearly as much discussion about this if the report said he was 6’ and weighed 255. As it is it looks like he cooked the books to be sure he didn’t cross over the line to obese. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2018, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-president-trump-suddenly-getting-worse/806444/225 "2018-01-17T19:39:09Z")
> [@Buck\_Godot](#): > > Not really. We’re mostly lie shaming. I don’t think there would be nearly as much discussion about this if the report said he was 6’ and weighed 255. As it is it looks like he cooked the books to be sure he didn’t cross over the line to obese. I think that this is the core of it. Different people do carry their weight differently, but his administration has made a cottage industry out of playing fast and loose with numbers (and throwing around the accusation of “fake news” when they don’t like the numbers used by the press). In that environment, when his reported height appears high (based on photographic evidence that suggests that Trump is about the same height as Obama (6’1"), and a couple of inches shorter than Jeb Bush (6’3") ), and when his reported weight also seems questionable, it’s not surprising that there’s a lot of incredulity. Add to that the fact that Trump has a long history of fatshaming / bodyshaming women, and I’m not surprised that there are people who feel that this is just karmic backlash. ---
**Author:** ![HurricaneDitka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/96bed5/32.png) [@HurricaneDitka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HurricaneDitka)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2018, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-president-trump-suddenly-getting-worse/806444/226 "2018-01-17T19:45:58Z")
> [@Buck\_Godot](#): > > Not really. We’re mostly lie shaming. I don’t think there would be nearly as much discussion about this if the report said he was 6’ and weighed 255. As it is it looks like he cooked the books to be sure he didn’t cross over the line to obese. I used to feel like I came here for the interesting discussion and insightful commentary. More and more I feel like I’m mostly here to read the wild conspiracy theories that get bandied around nowadays. ---
**Author:** ![Ravenman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ravenman/32/2929_2.png) [@Ravenman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ravenman)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2018, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-president-trump-suddenly-getting-worse/806444/227 "2018-01-17T19:49:43Z")
> [@Shodan](#): > > What we have learned is that doctors who actually examined a patient can’t be trusted, but psychiatric diagnoses made by those who have never met the subject are definitive. Sometimes you just need to punctuate a post with “Touche!” instead of “Regards.” I have to admit that this is a very sound point. ---
**Author:** ![Airbeck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/airbeck/32/6574_2.png) [@Airbeck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Airbeck)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2018, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-president-trump-suddenly-getting-worse/806444/228 "2018-01-17T20:06:44Z")
> [@HurricaneDitka](#): > > I used to feel like I came here for the interesting discussion and insightful commentary. More and more I feel like I’m mostly here to read the wild conspiracy theories that get bandied around nowadays. I think maybe you’ve confused Trumps twitter feed with the straight dope… ---
**Author:** ![JackieLikesVariety](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackielikesvariety/32/296_2.png) [@JackieLikesVariety](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JackieLikesVariety)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2018, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-president-trump-suddenly-getting-worse/806444/229 "2018-01-17T20:16:51Z")
> [@HurricaneDitka](#): > > I used to feel like I came here for the interesting discussion and insightful commentary. More and more I feel like I’m mostly here to read the wild conspiracy theories that get bandied around nowadays. yes, it’s just WILD to think he is lying about his height\* - much more likely he has gotten taller in his 70s. :rolleyes: \*and weight and so on ---
**Author:** ![Try2B\_Comprehensive](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/try2b_comprehensive/32/65_2.png) [@Try2B\_Comprehensive](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Try2B_Comprehensive)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2018, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-president-trump-suddenly-getting-worse/806444/230 "2018-01-17T20:18:49Z")
My psychologist gf points out: > [@](#): > > The MoCA does not measure IQ or psychopathology… it’s just a neurological/dementia screen. So I think some of you are arguing past each other. Yeah, he got examined, but he hasn’t been cleared of being a nut job, only of not having dementia. Hope that helps! ---
**Author:** ![Steve\_MB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steve_mb/32/5339_2.png) [@Steve\_MB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steve_MB)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2018, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-president-trump-suddenly-getting-worse/806444/231 "2018-01-17T20:32:17Z")
> [@octopus](#): > > Are you engaging in fat shaming? No, lie shaming. ---
**Author:** ![drad\_dog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/aeb1de/32.png) [@drad\_dog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drad_dog)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2018, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-president-trump-suddenly-getting-worse/806444/232 "2018-01-17T20:40:53Z")
> [@Shodan](#): > > What we have learned is that doctors who actually examined a patient can’t be trusted, but psychiatric diagnoses made by those who have never met the subject are definitive. > > Regards, > Shodan I think you were intending sarcasm but look what happened. The observable truth! ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2018, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-president-trump-suddenly-getting-worse/806444/233 "2018-01-17T20:43:10Z")
So the Prez finds a short cognitive test online where both the questions and the answers are easily found, requests that this particular test be given to him, and he gets a perfect score! :rolleyes: X infinity, folks. ---
**Author:** ![Sherrerd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sherrerd/32/8_2.png) [@Sherrerd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sherrerd)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2018, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-president-trump-suddenly-getting-worse/806444/234 "2018-01-17T20:46:33Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > So the Prez finds a short cognitive test online where both the questions and the answers are easily found, requests that this particular test be given to him, and he gets a perfect score! > :rolleyes: X infinity, folks. Yes. It’s disturbing that the Navy doctor was willing to go along with this, and even more disturbing that he was willing to go along with the _'add two inches and subtract enough pounds to keep the results one pound under “obese”_’ shenanigans. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2018, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-president-trump-suddenly-getting-worse/806444/235 "2018-01-17T20:52:48Z")
> [@Sherrerd](#): > > Yes. > > It’s disturbing that the Navy doctor was willing to go along with this, and even more disturbing that he was willing to go along with the _'add two inches and subtract enough pounds to keep the results one pound under “obese”_’ shenanigans. “Obese” is worthless anyway. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2018, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-president-trump-suddenly-getting-worse/806444/236 "2018-01-17T21:21:41Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > “Obese” is worthless anyway. Possibly so, though had the physical resulted in him being tagged with the term, it would have undoubtedly been mentioned to death by the press and his critics. ---
**Author:** ![Evil\_Economist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/c89c15/32.png) [@Evil\_Economist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Evil_Economist)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2018, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-president-trump-suddenly-getting-worse/806444/237 "2018-01-17T22:20:44Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > So the Prez finds a short cognitive test online where both the questions and the answers are easily found, requests that this particular test be given to him, and he gets a perfect score! > :rolleyes: X infinity, folks. Exactly. Why isn’t the press pointing this out? I would think that cognitive decline in the president is important enough that we could do a more reliable test. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2018, 10:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-president-trump-suddenly-getting-worse/806444/238 "2018-01-17T22:28:36Z")
> [@Evil\_Economist](#): > > Exactly. Why isn’t the press pointing this out? > > I would think that cognitive decline in the president is important enough that we could do a more reliable test. One without an easily available cheat-sheet, perhaps? ---
**Author:** ![HurricaneDitka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/96bed5/32.png) [@HurricaneDitka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HurricaneDitka)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2018, 10:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-president-trump-suddenly-getting-worse/806444/239 "2018-01-17T22:48:43Z")
> [@Evil\_Economist](#): > > … I would think that cognitive decline in the president is important enough that we could do a more reliable test. Not that it’s going to happen, but I am a bit curious: which “more reliable” test would you recommend? ---
**Author:** ![HurricaneDitka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/96bed5/32.png) [@HurricaneDitka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HurricaneDitka)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2018, 11:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-president-trump-suddenly-getting-worse/806444/240 "2018-01-17T23:09:28Z")
> [@JackieLikesVariety](#): > > yes, it’s just WILD to think he is lying about his height\* - much more likely he has gotten taller in his 70s. > > :rolleyes: > > \*and weight and so on It was a wild conspiracy that Trump has dementia. A whole bunch of amateurs (and a few alleged professionals) pretended to diagnose him with it or speculated about it to get a political attack in. It’s probably worth noting that there are a bunch of Dopers, including you, whose opinions I consider significantly more suspect than I did before this latest episode. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-president-trump-suddenly-getting-worse/806444.md?page=11) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-president-trump-suddenly-getting-worse/806444.md?page=13)