Mary Trump, a clinical psychologist and President Trump's estranged niece, says her uncle is 'losing control,' pointing to episodes at the World Economic Forum in Davos and other recent behavior. She highlighted repeated public stumbles, a persistent bruise on his right hand and what she describes as erratic speeches. The White House dismissed her remarks with a sharply worded statement from Communications Director Steven Cheung.
Mary Trump Says Uncle Donald Is 'Losing Control' After Davos Stumbles
U.S. President Donald Trump speaks to reporters on board Air Force One while flying in between Ireland and Washington as he returns from the World Economic Forum on January 22, 2026 at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland. / Chip Somodevilla / Getty Images
Mary Trump, a clinical psychologist and the estranged niece of President Donald Trump, has publicly warned that her uncle is "losing control," citing a series of public incidents she says point to cognitive, psychological and physical decline.
Mary Trump at The Cambridge Union on May 25, 2025. / Nordin Catic / Getty Images for The Cambridge U
Writing on her Substack, Mary — who is 60 — described what she called a "perfect storm" of factors: advancing age, mounting signs of cognitive changes, and behavior she characterizes as incompetent. She wrote that "humiliation has come to stalk him at every turn" and accused him of humiliating himself "on an almost daily basis."
Bruising was visible on Trump's left hand. / Chip Somodevilla / Getty Images
‘The sense that he is losing control—over himself and the narrative—and the desperation that goes along with that... it was perhaps inevitable that humiliation has come to stalk him at every turn.’ — Mary Trump
Mary pointed to President Trump’s appearances this week at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, where she says he repeatedly called Greenland "Iceland," posted private messages from foreign leaders on his Truth Social platform, and delivered rambling or erratic speeches. Observers also noted prominent bruising on his right hand; the White House has attributed the marks to handshakes and aspirin, and the president has acknowledged taking a higher dose of aspirin than recommended.
President Donald Trump arrives for a bilateral meeting with Switzerland's President on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum (WEF) annual meeting in Davos on January 21, 2026. / LAURENT GILLIERON / POOL/AFP via Getty Images
Mary said Trump’s reportedly erratic remarks in Switzerland and his apparent difficulty staying on topic underscore—she believes—his unsuitability to lead. She also noted diplomatic setbacks in Davos, including reports that several major European leaders skipped the signing ceremony for his "Board of Peace" initiative and that he retreated from pressing a proposal on Greenland after NATO criticism.
On CNN’s Erin Burnett OutFront, Mary told host Erin Burnett she believes the president has had undiagnosed psychiatric disorders predating his first administration and that, with advancing age, cognitive issues appear to be emerging. She referenced ongoing cognitive tests and reports of MRIs.
Responding to Mary’s public comments, White House Communications Director Steven Cheung told The Daily Beast, "Mary Trump is a stone-old loser who doesn’t have a clue about anything." The Daily Beast said it asked Cheung whether he had meant to say "stone-cold" and received no clarification.
The debate over the president’s health and fitness has prompted questions about transparency from the White House and renewed scrutiny from allies and critics alike. Mary urged attention not only to the president’s condition but to the advisers and aides she says are enabling his conduct.
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