US President Donald Trump gestures while walking across the South Lawn as he returns to the White House after traveling to Kansas, in Washington, DC, US, October 20, 2026. REUTERS/Nathan Howard
In a bizarre video, President Donald Trump, 80, has renewed concerns about his cognitive health as he is seen wandering across the White House helipad, waving and saluting no one.
The footage shows Trump as he prepares to take off on Marine One, staring into empty space and waving and interacting with someone who is not there. The camera zooms out, showing that the president is interacting with empty space.
The interaction with an unapparent audience lasted about 30 seconds.
The unusual moment quickly attracted attention on social media, with many questioning the president’s behavior or whether he was having hallucinations.
In a second video, before he waved and interacted with empty space, Trump is seen walking and repeatedly tapping his right leg in an odd way. He salutes the military personnel before entering the helicopter.
Political commentator Brian Krassenstein was among those questioning the president's behavior.
"I now have absolutely no doubt that Donald Trump has major mental decline," Krassenstein wrote on X. He then wondered how conservative media may react if former President Joe Biden did the same thing:
"Just think for one minute if Joe Biden had waved into the abyss like Trump just did here. Imagine what Fox News would be saying."
This moment is one of many involving Trump's strange movements. During a visit to Japan in October 2025, Trump appeared confused while walking through a room of dignitaries and a military band, at one point wandering off without Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, according to the magazine.
At 80, Trump's physical and mental fitness have come under scrutiny by numerous medical experts during his second term.
As recently reported on AlterNet, a psychologist warned that the president has shown "highly concerning" signs of confusion and "seizure-like episodes" while at public events.
Medical experts have analyzed his verbal slips and repetitive language as potential indicators of cognitive aging or potential signs of dementia.
The White House has continued to push back on concerns about his ability to perform his duties. "President Trump is the sharpest, most accessible, and energetic president in American history," White House spokesperson Davis Ingle said.
Trump made attacks on Biden’s mental health central to his 2024 election campaign and many of his talking points have come back to haunt him.
He has frequently drawn comparisons to Biden, who was forced to abandon his bid for reelection after a disastrous presidential debate.
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