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Psychiatrist Criticized Trump Mental Health

David Reiss labeled the President as deranged in a recent interview, citing public comments.

Updated on Sept. 21, 2026 in Alzheimer’s

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Psychiatrist David Reiss faces criticism after assessing President Donald Trump's mental health, raising concerns about the American Psychiatric Association's Goldwater Rule. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Should psychiatrists offer public opinions on the mental health of politicians they have not examined?

Psychiatrist David Reiss has described President Donald Trump as deranged in an interview with AlterNet. The psychiatrist used a hypothetical scenario and specific public comments to illustrate his concerns.

Why it matters

The comments revive questions regarding the professional assessment of public figures. The American Psychiatric Association Goldwater Rule maintains that psychiatrists should not offer professional opinions on public figures without performing an examination.

President Donald Trump scored 30 out of 30 on the Montreal Cognitive Assessment during his annual examination. White House physician Sean Barbabella reported the President maintained normal mental status, reflexes, and motor strength.

The players

David Reiss

David Reiss is a psychiatrist who contributed to the 2017 book The Dangerous Case of Donald Trump.

Donald Trump

Donald Trump is the current President of the United States.

Sean Barbabella

Sean Barbabella serves as the White House physician.

American Psychiatric Association

The American Psychiatric Association is a professional organization that established the Goldwater Rule regarding professional opinions on public figures.

The details

David Reiss, a contributor to the 2017 book The Dangerous Case of Donald Trump, based his assessment on public comments regarding the spelling of the word dumb. Trump underwent his annual medical checkup at the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center on 26 May 2026, where staff found his health indicators within normal limits.

Timeline

  1. October 2017: The original edition of The Dangerous Case of Donald Trump was published.

  2. 21 July 2024: Joe Biden withdrew from the presidential race.

  3. 26 May 2026: Donald Trump underwent an annual examination at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center.

  4. 19 September 2026: An interview with David Reiss was published by AlterNet.

Health Landscape

The public discourse surrounding these claims follows the long-standing ethical guidelines set by the American Psychiatric Association Goldwater Rule. This framework cautions against professional evaluations of public figures without direct clinical examination.

The reliance on public observation versus standardized clinical testing impacts how the public evaluates health reports of government officials. Understanding the rigor of clinical assessments like the Montreal Cognitive Assessment provides context for interpreting presidential health disclosures.

The takeaway

Expert assessments of public figures remain a controversial topic in the psychiatric community due to ethical guidelines. Readers should distinguish between clinical evaluations performed by private physicians and public commentary provided by outside observers.

Further reading

For broader context on cognitive health standards, visit the Alzheimer’s section.

Source note: This article includes information reported by International Business Times UK.

Live Poll

Should psychiatrists offer public opinions on the mental health of politicians they have not examined?