Former President Trump Posts Racist Video, Sparking Concerns About His Mental State

Experts weigh in on whether Trump is suffering from dementia, paranoia, or narcissism as his erratic behavior continues.

Published on Feb. 10, 2026

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Former President Donald Trump has sparked renewed concerns about his mental state after posting a blatantly racist video depicting former President Barack Obama and former First Lady Michelle Obama as apes. Trump has also made a series of bizarre and aggressive statements, including attacking the Super Bowl halftime show and making false claims about winning the popular vote. Experts are divided on whether Trump is suffering from dementia, paranoia, or narcissism, with some arguing his troubling behavior has been present for most of his adult life.

Why it matters

Trump's erratic behavior and apparent detachment from reality raise serious questions about his fitness to hold positions of power, especially given his past role as president. The 25th Amendment was enacted to allow the removal of leaders with mental incapacities, and there are growing calls to invoke it in Trump's case.

The details

In the racist video clip, Trump portrayed the Obamas as apes, a deeply offensive and dehumanizing depiction. When the video was deleted, Trump claimed he knew nothing about it. This is just the latest in a series of bizarre and hostile outbursts from the former president, including angry tirades, demands for his name to appear everywhere, and aggressive responses to reporters. Experts are divided on the root cause, with some arguing Trump has always exhibited these traits, while others believe he is suffering from conditions like dementia, paranoia, or narcissism that are worsening with age.

  • On February 9, 2026, Trump posted the racist video depicting the Obamas as apes.
  • On February 10, 2026, Trump claimed he knew nothing about the video after it was deleted.

The players

Donald Trump

The former president of the United States who has exhibited a pattern of erratic and concerning behavior in recent years.

Barack Obama

The 44th president of the United States, who was depicted in a racist video posted by Trump.

Michelle Obama

The former First Lady of the United States, who was also depicted in the racist video posted by Trump.

Mary Trump

A clinical psychologist and Trump's niece, who wrote the 2020 bestseller "Too Much and Never Enough: How My Family Created the World's Most Dangerous Man" about her uncle.

Robert Reich

A professor of public policy at Berkeley and former secretary of labor, who wrote the article analyzing Trump's mental state.

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What they’re saying

“We must not let individuals continue to damage private property in San Francisco.”

— Robert Jenkins, San Francisco resident (San Francisco Chronicle)

What’s next

The 25th Amendment, which allows for the removal of a president deemed unfit for office, may be invoked to address concerns about Trump's mental state.

The takeaway

Trump's erratic and disturbing behavior, including the posting of a racist video and making false claims about election victories, has raised serious concerns about his mental fitness and the potential dangers of allowing someone with such instability to hold positions of power. Experts are divided on the root cause, but there are growing calls to invoke the 25th Amendment to address this issue.