Doubts About Trump’s Mental Fitness Are Growing – Especially Among Republicans

Donald Trump used the question of mental fitness as a weapon for years. He aimed it at political opponents, at former officeholders, at anyone who stood in his way. Now that question is coming back – and it is coming from within his own ranks. Recent polls show a clear loss of confidence among Republicans, not only in Trump’s policies, but in his ability to exercise the presidency in a mentally, ethically, and democratically responsible manner. The decline is particularly pronounced on the issue of mental fitness.

What the polls reveal is a clear rupture within the Republican camp. Confidence in Donald Trump is declining not only in his policies, but also in his personal suitability for the presidency. The drop is especially sharp when it comes to ethical judgment. Only about four in ten Republicans now say they are very or extremely confident that Trump acts ethically in office – at the beginning of last year, that figure was still 55 percent. At the same time, doubts about his mental fitness are also increasing. Around two thirds of Republicans currently still consider Trump mentally fit enough to hold office, but this figure too has fallen significantly, from 75 percent at the start of his second term. This development is particularly explosive because Trump himself repeatedly put the mental condition of his predecessor at the center of political debate. The skepticism now hits him where he long appeared untouchable: within his own camp. At the beginning of his second term, that figure was still three quarters. The decline is all the more striking given that Trump himself had repeatedly questioned his predecessor’s mental fitness in public. What long passed as partisan loyalty is now visibly beginning to crumble.

Clear shifts are also evident on the issue of ethics. Only around four in ten Republicans today are extremely or very confident that Trump acts ethically in office. At the beginning of last year, that number was significantly higher. Similar declines appear in trust in his respect for democratic principles. Taken together, a picture of growing skepticism emerges that can no longer be confined to fringe groups. At the same time, Trump is also losing support for his political agenda overall. While it was long assumed that for many voters policy issues mattered more than character or demeanor, cracks are now appearing here as well. Only just over half of Republicans say they support all or most of his plans. Immediately after he took office, this figure was noticeably higher. Approval is not collapsing abruptly, but steadily eroding.

A key driver of this development is migration policy. While the goal of deportations continues to enjoy broad support, rejection of the methods being used is growing. A majority of voters perceive the actions of the immigration authorities as too aggressive. Approval is also declining noticeably among Republicans. Support for Trump’s handling of migration has dropped significantly within just a few months. Public perception shifted particularly after the death of Renee Good, who was shot by an ICE officer during an operation in Minneapolis at the beginning of the year.

At the same time, the impression is growing that Trump is setting the wrong priorities. For many Americans, the economic situation is paramount. Yet polls show that a large share of the population feels life has become less affordable. Around seven in ten registered voters believe Trump is not paying enough attention to the economy – including about half of Republicans. Only a minority say they have personally benefited from his economic policies, while a significantly larger share say they are financially worse off than before. Nearly half even expect the economic situation to deteriorate further in the coming year.

This combination of factors is becoming politically dangerous for Trump, especially with a midterm election year approaching. While he regularly points to alleged successes of his administration, the polls show a widening gap between self perception and public assessment. Many Americans feel Trump is fixated on issues that bypass their everyday concerns. Migration, aggressive foreign policy gestures, and symbolic projects dominate headlines, while costs, wages, and economic stability fade into the background. What is emerging is not a sudden collapse, but a gradual erosion. The decisive difference from earlier phases lies in where the doubts originate. They no longer come only from political opponents, but increasingly from within his own camp. The question of Trump’s mental fitness is thus no longer a rhetorical instrument, but a political problem – one that can no longer be brushed aside.