Donald Trump sparked fresh health concerns after confusing Iran with Venezuela during a live White House cabinet meeting, with social media users branding it an “alarming” sign
Donald Trump sparked fresh health concerns after confusing Iran with Venezuela during what observers described as an “alarming moment” at the Oval Office.
The US president made the blunder while hosting a live-broadcast cabinet meeting, mixing up the two nations entirely.
He said: “I don’t go into war, I go into conflict,” in reference to the ongoing situation in the Middle East and escalating tensions between the US and Iran, with no peace agreement yet reached.
He then continued: “Despite the conflict with Venezuela who no longer has a navy, no longer has an air force, no longer has a lot of people that were leading the country into very bad places.”
Remarkably, the president neither flinched nor corrected himself following the gaffe, referring to Venezuela while clearly discussing the destruction the US has inflicted upon Iran — something he has repeatedly and proudly boasted about.
Trump added: “Their leadership is gone. Their second is gone. We’re dealing with half of their third as half of their third is gone too.”
The clip has since gone viral across social media, with users labelling it “alarming” and citing it as further proof of the president’s “cognitive decline”.
At other points in the meeting Trump referred correctly to Iran, claiming that Secretary of War Pete Hegseth will ‘finish them off.’
“Iran is very much intent, they want very much to make a deal,’ Trump said.
Speaking from the Oval Office, the president made it clear that Iran is desperate to come to a deal and the United States holds all the cards and will not accept anything subpar.
Trump visited Walter Reed National Military Medical Centre on Tuesday for a routine health check-up — his third medical appointment in just 13 months.
Despite mounting concerns over his wellbeing, Trump took to TruthSocial the moment his appointment wrapped up. He posted, “Just finished my 6-month physical at Walter Reed Military Medical Center. Everything checked out PERFECTLY. Thank you to the great Doctors and Staff! Heading back to the White House. President DJT.”
Despite the president declaring himself to be in fine fettle, medical professionals who have studied his behaviour harbour serious concerns that all may not be well.
On multiple occasions, he has been spotted nodding off during cabinet meetings.
Dr Jonathan Reiner told CNN: “Chronic insomnia is a severe illness. It can result in an increase in risk of dementia, decrease in cognitive effects in older people.”
He further warned that it can lead to a “decline in your mental function”.
Trump’s latest gaffe, made at the most recent cabinet meeting, follows a separate blunder the week prior in which he confused Iran with Taiwan.
Both slip-ups suggest the president is in a state of bewilderment, despite his recent medical check-up reportedly indicating the contrary.
