Trump ‘isn’t what he used to be’, as White House staff say he’s thinking more about death

During his term at the White House, Donald Trump’s health has become a subject of intense public scrutiny, a reality he has rarely tried to avoid. At 79, the White House has portrayed him as tireless, with aides repeatedly describing a president who works nonstop and keeps pace with those around him, even branding him “the Superhuman President.”

But behind the carefully constructed image of stamina and strength, questions persist. And according to a White House official cited by New York Magazine, Trump may now be confronting something he has long brushed aside: his own mortality.




It is said that Trump has given up his signature golden hair dye, letting it turn naturally white. But greying hair is the least of the worries, White House staff confided to New York Magazine. There have been other indicators, including his hearing. New York Magazine quoted a staff member who said that Trump’s hearing “isn’t what it used to be.” He often asks people to speak up and leans in to listen, a fact he himself may not be aware of.

Last year, while looking at former president Jimmy Carter lying in state at the US Capitol, Trump reportedly remarked, “You know, within ten years that will be me.” However, Trump administration spokesperson Karoline Leavitt said she does not recall the comment being made.

The speculation gains further grounding when examining the US president’s current actions. A senior White House official told New York Magazine that Trump has been “thinking more about what he will be remembered for.”

All the changes being made to the White House, including the “crazy ballroom” planned on the site of the demolished East Wing — are “about leaving a legacy here.” This need to be remembered may also be reflected in his renaming of the Kennedy Center or the “Arc de Trump” he wants to erect in Washington.

“He doesn’t think of legacy in terms of policies enacted. It’s buildings he can leave behind and prizes he can win (the Nobel Peace Prize),” said a Republican operative with ties to the administration.

Eric Trump told the magazine that his father is superstitious and does not like talking or thinking about death. “He likes occupying his mind with what’s in the present and not as much with what’s in the future. He will say, ‘You have the most beautiful assets in the world, and you will be able to enjoy them for a long time to come.’ Is it in some way on everybody’s mind? Of course. But he believes, and so do I, he has a lot of years left.”

But the “d-question” often surfaces when discussions turn to the 2028 presidential election. Even Trump has begun talking about what his eventual successor might be like. For now, he has only good things to say about both Rubio and Vance, the top contenders for the role. However, he has not decided between the two: “He tells J.D., ‘You’re my guy.’ He tells Marco, ‘You’re my guy.’”