Trump is either 'clinically insane' or trying to sink Republicans: Carville

U.S. President Donald Trump walks at Newark Liberty International Airport as he travels en route to Trump National Golf Club Bedminster, in Newark, New Jersey, U.S., August 7, 2026. REUTERS/Elizabeth Frantz

Veteran Democratic strategist James Carville questions President Donald Trump’s mental health and whether he truly wants the Republicans to win the upcoming midterm elections, summing up that his behavior can be summed up in two ways.

On the Politics War Room podcast, Carville said Trump's recent comments and campaign appearances make little sense, given that the president's party is trying to keep control of Congress.

"Is Trump trying to lose? I mean, there's nothing that he does that's consistent with trying to win," Carville said.

The remarks came during a discussion with co-host Al Hunt, who described Trump as "out of control" less than four weeks before Election Day.

Hunt referred to a number of recent controversies, such as Trump's idea that Iran might bomb Los Angeles and San Diego, his firm belief that inflation is practically non-existent and his numerous insults aimed at the Democrats.

"He said there's almost no inflation. There's actually 3.4 percent inflation, higher than when he took office," Hunt said, adding that voters experiencing higher prices are unlikely to be persuaded otherwise.

He also questioned Trump's choice to hold his campaign in Grand Island, Nebraska, rather than in Omaha, since Republicans are running a competitive House race there.

Carville used those examples to question whether Trump was intentionally making life harder for congressional Republicans.

"He is the central issue in the campaign. He dominates everything," Carville said. "But I gotta keep asking, is he trying to do this? Does he just want to screw the congressional Republicans? Does he hate them? I don't know."

The experienced Democratic strategist then put forward an even more provocative explanation for the president's actions.

"It might be that he's just out of his goddamn mind. Who knows?" Carville said, continuing: "But he is a man of real grievances, and this behavior is the only thing that can really explain it is he's clinically insane, or he wants the Republicans to lose. I don't think there's any other explanation for it."

While Carville’s assessment is speculative at best, experts have also questioned Trump’s mental health. Psychiatrist Dr. Henry Abraham, who won the Nobel Peace Prize, recently gave an in-depth interview with AlterNet describing the president as a literal "maniac."

He admitted that he had difficulty coming up with an alternative explanation, though he also raised a separate issue regarding how Trump might react to an unsuccessful election result.

"I'm hard-pressed to give you one," Hunt replied.

Hunt said he was still concerned that Trump might try to intimidate voters or interfere with the election, but he was much less concerned about the president helping Republican candidates on the campaign trail.

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