Representative Jamie Raskin has asked the White House physician to perform a comprehensive cognitive assessment of President Donald Trump after a series of troubling public statements about Iran. Raskin cited an expletive-filled post about the Strait of Hormuz, comments to children at the White House Easter Egg Roll, and a warning that "a whole civilization will die tonight." While the White House has previously described the president as in "excellent health," Raskin said the results should be shared with Congress and lawmakers briefed. The request comes amid renewed discussion of the 25th Amendment and impeachment among some Democrats and commentators.
Raskin Urges White House Doctor To Give Trump Cognitive Test After Troubling Iran Remarks
Ranking Member Jamie Raskin speaks at a House Judiciary Committee hearing on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC, on March 4, 2026. - Elizabeth Frantz/Reuters/File
Representative Jamie Raskin has formally asked the White House physician to administer a comprehensive cognitive assessment of President Donald Trump, citing a series of alarming public statements related to the United States' confrontation with Iran.
Raskin's Request
In a letter obtained by CNN, the Maryland Democrat — the senior Democrat on the House Judiciary Committee — urged the White House doctor to test the president, provide the results to Congress and brief lawmakers on the findings. Raskin wrote that recent presidential statements have appeared "increasingly incoherent, volatile, profane, deranged, and threatening."
"At a time when our country is at war—especially when the war was initiated by the President without congressional declaration or consent—the American people must be able to trust that the Commander-in-Chief has the mental capacity to discharge the essential duties of his office," Raskin wrote.
Examples Cited
Raskin pointed to several incidents as the basis for his concern: an expletive-filled Easter Sunday social media post urging Iran to open the Strait of Hormuz, remarks Mr. Trump made to children at the White House Easter Egg Roll referencing the conflict, and a public statement warning that "a whole civilization will die tonight" if Iran failed to meet a deadline.
Political Context And Possible Outcomes
Raskin acknowledged the request may not change immediate outcomes: the White House physician has previously described the president as in "excellent health," and Mr. Trump has frequently boasted about his performance on cognitive tests. Still, Raskin and other Democrats — and some figures on the right — have suggested more drastic steps, including invoking the 25th Amendment or pursuing impeachment.
Invoking the 25th Amendment would require a majority of Cabinet members plus the vice president to declare the president unable to discharge his duties. There is no public indication that Cabinet members are preparing to take that step or that Vice President JD Vance would support it. Raskin was scheduled to lead a briefing for House Democrats on the 25th Amendment.
Precedent And Partisan Exchanges
Raskin also argued Republicans had previously raised questions about presidential cognitive fitness when scrutinizing President Joe Biden. He noted Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer subpoenaed Biden's White House physician and issued a staff report on the matter, and he urged GOP committee leaders to apply the same standard now.
CNN has reached out to the White House for comment. Reporters Donald Judd and Aaron Blake contributed to this report.
Why it matters: The request highlights how concerns about a president's cognitive fitness can intersect with national security and constitutional mechanisms for addressing presidential incapacity.
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