# Is Trump confused? **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Tags:** trump\ **Created:** [January 24, 2024, 1:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-trump-confused/996589 "2024-01-24T13:53:03Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 34
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2024, 3:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-trump-confused/996589/661 "2024-05-22T03:07:15Z")
> [@Skywatcher](#): > > Trump himself is blaming Biden… I’m scrolling through this, and this made me bust out laughing uncontrollably. What. The. Fuck? I mean really? What the hell is wrong with people that they follow this guy? ---
**Author:** ![Horatius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/horatius/32/3572_2.png) [@Horatius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatius)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2024, 12:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-trump-confused/996589/662 "2024-05-22T12:57:04Z")
> [@griffin1977](#): > > > They’re blaming it on a teleprompter glitch I mean, honestly, that’s what it looks like to me. He doesn’t just freeze, you can see him getting annoyed. But it’s still bad. The Republicans have spent years ragging on Obama and Biden for “being dependent” on using teleprompters, and here we see Trump is literally left speechless if his teleprompter glitches out. ---
**Author:** ![Horatius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/horatius/32/3572_2.png) [@Horatius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatius)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2024, 1:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-trump-confused/996589/663 "2024-05-22T13:02:12Z")
> [@SuntanLotion](#): > > It looked like he was going for the dramatic pause. I was thinking, the teleprompter had some stage direction like, “Pause for dramatic music”, but then didn’t tell him to start talking again. So he paused until the behind the scenes guys edited it to tell him to start talking again. You can see him thinking, “Why is the music still playing?”, not realizing that he was expected to speak over it for dramatic purposes. ---
**Author:** ![Mike\_Mabes](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mike_mabes/32/1782_2.png) [@Mike\_Mabes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mike_Mabes)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2024, 2:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-trump-confused/996589/664 "2024-05-23T02:43:49Z")
> [@Horatius](#): > > The Republicans have spent years ragging on Obama and Biden for “being dependent” on using teleprompters My favorite was Sarah Palin criticizing Obaba for using a telepromoter while she was reading from a teleprompter ---
**Author:** ![Euphonious\_Polemic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/euphonious_polemic/32/3002_2.png) [@Euphonious\_Polemic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Euphonious_Polemic)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2024, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-trump-confused/996589/665 "2024-05-23T15:50:08Z")
(insert name here)'s Law: “There is no hypocrisy so large that a Republican will not commit it at some point in time” ---
**Author:** ![Dr\_Paprika](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr_paprika/32/3042_2.png) [@Dr\_Paprika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr_Paprika)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2024, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-trump-confused/996589/666 "2024-05-23T15:53:21Z")
I thought that was a _Gingrich Guideline_. ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2024, 12:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-trump-confused/996589/667 "2024-05-24T00:55:21Z")
“A lot of people ask me, how do you put your pants on?” [https://x.com/Acyn/status/1793785504674279652](https://x.com/Acyn/status/1793785504674279652) “[Migrants are] being raped at levels that nobody’s seen before.” [https://x.com/atrupar/status/1793788494201905577](https://x.com/atrupar/status/1793788494201905577) “Hard working patriush tlig” [https://x.com/Acyn/status/1793794429083640287](https://x.com/Acyn/status/1793794429083640287) “Trump loves strong man. I like weak men. Actually I like weak men. I’d much rather have a weak man than a strong man.” [https://x.com/Acyn/status/1793790069981188242](https://x.com/Acyn/status/1793790069981188242) “This is unacceptal” [https://x.com/Acyn/status/1793788367144149222](https://x.com/Acyn/status/1793788367144149222) “This is not like an illegal immigrant. This is they are building something.” [https://x.com/Acyn/status/1793787704708321446](https://x.com/Acyn/status/1793787704708321446) ---
**Author:** ![DWMarch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dwmarch/32/1010_2.png) [@DWMarch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DWMarch)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2024, 2:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-trump-confused/996589/668 "2024-05-24T02:10:21Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > “[Migrants are] being raped at levels that nobody’s seen before.” Ah, so that’s how Trump is going to fix the border. ---
**Author:** ![Horatius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/horatius/32/3572_2.png) [@Horatius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatius)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2024, 2:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-trump-confused/996589/669 "2024-05-24T14:16:28Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > “Trump loves strong man. I like weak men. Actually I like weak men. I’d much rather have a weak man than a strong man.” You’re going to give him a pass on “Prime Minister of Hungry”? Sounds like a new fast food mascot. Which brand, though? ---
**Author:** ![Wolf333](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolf333/32/3460_2.png) [@Wolf333](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wolf333)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2024, 3:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-trump-confused/996589/670 "2024-05-24T15:56:34Z")
She actually had notes written on her hand. ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2024, 11:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-trump-confused/996589/671 "2024-05-25T23:34:40Z")
“Crooked Joe Biden was FULLY EXONERATED!” Does it still count when he’s accidentally telling the truth? [![](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/GOdaiskW0AAnX1_?format=jpg&name=medium) ](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/GOdaiskW0AAnX1_?format=jpg&name=medium) ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2024, 12:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-trump-confused/996589/672 "2024-05-26T00:14:10Z")
The raid wasn’t unwarranted. They had a warrant. ---
**Author:** ![PhillyGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ed655f/32.png) [@PhillyGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PhillyGuy)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2024, 12:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-trump-confused/996589/673 "2024-05-26T00:35:53Z")
> [@Gyrate](#): > > The raid wasn’t unwarranted. They had a warrant. Lying is not a synonym for confused. Regarding what Smapti said, Trump’s point is that Biden is getting away with what he, Donald, is being tried for. Trump has said that at relative length before, so now he can briefly telegraph it and his supporters will know what he means. I am not buying that Trump is typically or generally confused. Here’s a random passage from the [most recent Trump speech transcript at rev.com](https://www.rev.com/blog/transcripts/donald-trump-speaks-at-nra-convention): > [@](#): > > This is a horror show. In conclusion, together, we are taking on some of the most menacing forces and vicious opponents our people have ever seen. But no matter how hateful and corrupt the communists and criminals we are fighting against may be, you must never forget this nation does not belong to them. This nation belongs to you, to you, to you. This is your home. This is your heritage. And our American liberty is your God-given right from Beaumont to El Paso, from Fort Worth to Corpus Christi, and from Midland to Dallas, this state was won by God-fearing, hardworking patriots like the men and women in this room today. Putting aside the purposeful fearmongering incitement, I see one mistake. Trump says “in conclusion” even though this 35 minute speech has 14 minutes yet to go. That suggests to me he is not reading a teleprompter text – and yet can orate coherently. Now, confusion is a matter of degree. Compared to AMLO, the populist President of Mexico, who holds a 2 hour or longer press conference most weekday mornings, Trump’s podium skills may be weak. But he is typically not confused. If he loses the election, it will not be over confusion. ---
**Author:** ![DigitalC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ebca7d/32.png) [@DigitalC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DigitalC)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2024, 12:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-trump-confused/996589/674 "2024-05-26T00:49:14Z")
> [@PhillyGuy](#): > > That suggests to me he is not reading a teleprompter text – and yet can orate coherently. Didn’t he just stop a speech a couple days ago for like a minute because the teleprompter quit working? ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2024, 12:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-trump-confused/996589/675 "2024-05-26T00:54:48Z")
> [@PhillyGuy](#): > > Putting aside the purposeful fearmongering incitement, I see one mistake. Trump says “in conclusion” even though this 35 minute speech has 14 minutes yet to go. That suggests to me he is not reading a teleprompter text – and yet can orate coherently. So when he said “hard working patriushtlig, and you can say that a million times” last weekend, that was him orating his stance on what, exactly? [https://x.com/Acyn/status/1793794429083640287](https://x.com/Acyn/status/1793794429083640287) ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2024, 1:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-trump-confused/996589/676 "2024-05-26T01:03:24Z")
“So I’m asking for the libaree, well, think of it” [https://x.com/Acyn/status/1794533442329411936](https://x.com/Acyn/status/1794533442329411936) ---
**Author:** ![PhillyGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ed655f/32.png) [@PhillyGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PhillyGuy)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2024, 1:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-trump-confused/996589/677 "2024-05-26T01:16:25Z")
The last two posts have links to brief speech passages that were cherry-picked to find mispronounced words. Considering how he talks about Putin, and third terms, there’s a good case for him being evil. Unfortunately, I am missing the case for him being confused. ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2024, 1:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-trump-confused/996589/678 "2024-05-26T01:20:44Z")
> [@PhillyGuy](#): > > The last two posts have links to brief speech passages that were cherry-picked to find mispronounced words. Which happens multiple times in every speech he gives. It happens often enough that he compensates for it by tossing out a throwaway line once he realizes he can’t make his mouth make the noises in his brain. He doesn’t even try to complete his thought, he just moves on to the next point on the prompter. Do I have to break out the clip where he bragged about being endorsed by Hannibal Lecter again? And remember - he didn’t used to talk like this. He wasn’t slurring his words and changing thoughts mid-sentence eight years ago or even four years ago. Things like “covfefe” and “yo-semite” used to be a novelty because he DIDN’T make up nonsense words all the time. This is new and it’s evidence of mental degradation. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2024, 1:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-trump-confused/996589/679 "2024-05-26T01:35:35Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > And remember - he didn’t used to talk like this. He wasn’t slurring his words and changing thoughts mid-sentence eight years ago or even four years ago. Things like “covfefe” and “yo-semite” used to be a novelty because he DIDN’T make up nonsense words all the time. This is new and it’s evidence of mental degradation. Yes, and Bidens gaffes have plagued him all his life. ---
**Author:** ![PhillyGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ed655f/32.png) [@PhillyGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PhillyGuy)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2024, 1:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-trump-confused/996589/680 "2024-05-26T01:36:24Z")
> [@DigitalC](#): > > Didn’t he just stop a speech a couple days ago for like a minute because the teleprompter quit working? I think you mean this: [Posts Appear to Show Trump Stop Speaking for 35 Seconds](https://www.yahoo.com/news/fact-check-posts-appear-show-213000357.html) My bit of googling failed to find any evidence he was then using a teleprompter (or evidence he was not). Googling the terms Trump and teleprompter, I see Trump [claiming in 2016 that he rarely uses a teleprompter](https://www.politico.com/story/2016/06/donald-trump-teleprompter-224039). But when president, [he used it a lot](https://www.politico.com/news/2020/02/04/meet-trump-teleprompter-man-gabe-perez-110599): > [@](#): > > “It’s much easier to tell when he’s ad-libbing,” said former Obama speechwriter David Litt. “You can tell when he’s not read through the material he’s seeing.” > > For ex-Obama aides, Trump’s reliance on the teleprompter to deliver pre-written speeches can be grating after hearing constant taunts from Trump and other Republicans about Obama’s teleprompter use. Now? Looking at a few of his 2014 speeches at [rev.com](http://rev.com), they read to me as if mostly ad-libbed. But I could be wrong. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-trump-confused/996589.md?page=33) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-trump-confused/996589.md?page=35)