A reader recently messaged me with this pointedly rhetorical question: “So we had the guy with dementia or the drug addict—ain’t democracy great?”
Here's was my reply:
Well, I grant that it was a binary choice (assuming you’re referring to Joe Biden and not the actual Democratic candidate, Kamala Harris). Yes, on the one side, we had a man with declining mental acuity. But on the other side? A likely drug addict, a man with clear signs of his own cognitive decline, and also someone who happens to be:
A serial liar with over 30,000 documented falsehoods during his presidency.
A narcissistic demagogue who demanded constant praise, claimed he deserved a Nobel Peace Prize, and praised dictators like Putin and Kim Jong-un.
A sexual predator, credibly accused by dozens of women and found liable for sexual abuse in court.
A white nationalist apologist who called neo-Nazis “very fine people” and stoked racial division.
A con artist who ran scams like Trump University and grifted $150 million from supporters in a fake “stop the steal” campaign.
A seditionist who incited a violent mob to storm the Capitol, attacking the foundation of American democracy.
A national security threat who hoarded classified documents in his private residence and flaunted them to unqualified individuals.
A vindictive bully who mocked disabled reporters, insulted veterans, and attacked anyone who challenged him.
A tax cheat who bragged about paying nothing while facing decades of financial fraud investigations.
A climate saboteur who gutted over 100 environmental protections and denied the science of climate change.
A COVID-19 disaster whose incompetence and misinformation contributed to the deaths of over a million Americans.
A racist provocateur who sought to ban Muslims, derided African nations as “shithole countries,” and told U.S. citizens to “go back” to their countries of origin.
A grifter-in-chief who funneled taxpayer dollars into his businesses, blatantly violating the Emoluments Clause.
A wannabe autocrat who idolized despots, undermined democratic institutions, and dreamed of unchecked power.
A human foghorn whose divisive rhetoric fractured families, communities, and the nation.
A master manipulator who peddled conspiracy theories and weaponized fear to consolidate power.
A petulant child who threw tantrums over crowd sizes and petty grievances.
A national embarrassment who alienated allies, emboldened enemies, and degraded America’s standing on the world stage.
A man devoid of empathy, whose first reaction to tragedy or loss was, “What about me?”
etc., ad infinitum, ad nauseam. So yes, there was a binary choice: a decent, aging man with some lapses—versus a hurricane of ego, malice, and incompetence who left destruction in his wake. A no-brainer, really.
As an ex-meth user, I can vouch for every single word you said. I know how it fucked me up, I knew it even as I used it. Addiction to stimulants will short circuit your brain and wreck your life. I quit and avoided disaster but know others who did not and the difference in how our lives turned out is staggering. Anyone feeling like I did during those crazy days shouldn't be in charge of feeding a pet, much less being POTUS.
Thank you for sharing your experience and perspective—it adds so much weight to this conversation. Your insight as someone who’s been through the devastating effects of stimulant addiction is incredibly valuable and courageous. The contrast you’ve drawn between your life and the lives of those who didn’t escape the grip of addiction is a powerful reminder of just how destructive it can be. You’re absolutely right—anyone struggling with the chaos of addiction has no business holding the immense responsibility of leadership, especially at this level. Thank you for speaking out and for turning your own story into a message of awareness and truth. Your voice matters.
Yes, THIS!! Fully, 100% can attest to this, not that I have been on the inside of his -circle-, but I HAVE "been there" from the POV of someone who has struggled with substance use since he was 10 years old.
If I had to -guess- what he was using, I'd go with Adderall and Klonapin, or Valium. I have not written a long form essay on here yet, but you've convinced me I should start there, because I believe I may be able to add an important perspective. I'm certain of the Adderall use, because the rants he'd call in to Fox & Friends, where it was so -clearly- "just kicking in", would actually make me start -craving- the stuff again.
There is a "state specific memory" type of thing that happens with me, certain music will bring it on as well, but those rants would bring it on BIG TIME! I'd recognize it -anywhere-, the motor mouthing, and random word/thought association are a big tell. Dangerous is an understatement, if where that cocktail led me is any metric, my combo was Adderall, methadone, and clonazepam, and things got pretty dark....
Your perspective is invaluable, and you absolutely should write that essay—it sounds like it could shed light on a reality most people don’t fully grasp. Your insight into the behaviors and patterns tied to substance use, especially when observing someone like Trump, is both chilling and critical. That "state specific memory" you describe adds a visceral layer to understanding his infamous Fox & Friends rants. Dangerous is right—when the man leading the country exhibits behaviors that mirror such destructive patterns, the potential fallout isn’t just personal; it’s national. Your voice could make a real impact in highlighting these dangers. Write it. The world needs to hear this.
Working on it, but I have A LOT on my plate rn, explanation fot THAT will probably be forthcoming as well, seems as good a topic as any. Suffice to say, without going into detail, I'm just working against a clock at the moment, which will kind of decide whether I have a roof, or am pushing my belongings around in a shopping cart, so it's tough to fit it all in, "priorities", cause you know, I don't want it to be slap dash, and/or crappy either lol....
Shhhhhhhhh! Hitler's downfall was due, in appreciable measure, to the debilitating effects of his long-term opiod addiction. Your open letter captures the facts and public understanding of Trump's on-going substance abuse and gives renewed hope that time is on our side. Please, please, PLEASE don't shame him into recovery.
This might help explain the swaying to music for aover half an hour. I can't believe people watched that and thouht, that's our next presedent right there.
Sure, it could drugs. He could also be a narcissistic jackhole with no self-control. He’s rich and powerful so everyone kowtows to him and the cycle keeps repeating because nobody has ever made pay a price for his shitty behavior. As long as everyone kisses his ring or his shoes or his bunghole, he has no reason to change and at his age I doubt he’s capable of correcting his behavior anyway.
Why not both? And being rich and powerful is the only thing saving him from himself. No one survives being a stimulant addict without the help of lots of money and an enabling covey of caretakers.
Even as scary as Trump! Although Vance is young and healthy he has the mean spirited streak and holier than thou attitude! Where’s the deep dive into this MAGAot?
Biden was physically diminished but mentally acute. Dump us a raging, psychopathic drug addict who is massively susceptible to outside influences. We are fucked.
True about Joe Biden, but he was also doing the job, performing the duties required, sometimes working late into the night, and this can have an effect on an individual well into his/her mid-late 70s. This is a clear contrast to a 70+age 2-year-old who spends his time swinging golf clubs at all hours, and spends other hours swinging a sledgehammer on our nation, the Constitution, and our allies abroad.
Ask the WA PO. Ask The NY Times. Ask any of the major newspapers in major metropolitan cities coast to coast. Ask Morning Joe. Ask Faux “News” Entertainment.
I didn’t know this about him! I knew he didn’t drink, but not that he took drugs and is incontinent. I’ve always thought he was a lying, cheating traitor who should be in jail because he is a crook. This throws a lot of light on his monstrous behavior.
You’ve brought up such an important point, Pam! It’s really frustrating to see issues like this not getting the attention they deserve (while so much trivial content is obsessed over). Mainstream media often doesn’t cover these topics as thoroughly as we’d like, which is why independent platforms like Substack are so crucial.
They allow writers to dive deeper into stories that might be overlooked, giving us a chance to learn more about what’s really going on. It’s great that you’re asking these questions—having conversations about them is a step toward accountability. Let’s keep pushing for the answers we need!
P.S. If you haven't already, please subscribe to my Substack. 😊
Because their proximity to his power is like a drug to them which they can’t give up. The ones closest to him are probably actually the ones truly “managing” him, and they are getting what they’ve been aiming for—turning the USA into an authoritarian christian theocracy, i.e. project 2025.
Not to mention he is allegedly a compulsive diet Coke drinker, 12 a day.
Toxic chemicals (drugs and the diet Coke itself), plus a staggering amount of caffeine.
It has been noted, though not formally diagnosed, Malignant Narcissism.
Mixed with an unhealthy diet, there is no way his body or brain could be fully optimal.
(I have studied Brain Injuries as a lay person for two decades. In my little bit of research and curiosity, mental health issues and chemicals, never ends well.)
Thank you for sharing this, it puts some very important puzzle pieces into helping this make sense.
Cocaine is what is rubbed on gums and snorted . No one snorts Adderall .... I've been around users for 60+ years and believe me . Also that's why He had to leave the hospital when he had Covid and go for a ride ..to see his fans. It was obvious ..if you've ever scored or no someone who just scored ...that was tRumk to a T in his backseat thumbs up pose ....without a doubt .
A reader recently messaged me with this pointedly rhetorical question: “So we had the guy with dementia or the drug addict—ain’t democracy great?”
Here's was my reply:
Well, I grant that it was a binary choice (assuming you’re referring to Joe Biden and not the actual Democratic candidate, Kamala Harris). Yes, on the one side, we had a man with declining mental acuity. But on the other side? A likely drug addict, a man with clear signs of his own cognitive decline, and also someone who happens to be:
A serial liar with over 30,000 documented falsehoods during his presidency.
A narcissistic demagogue who demanded constant praise, claimed he deserved a Nobel Peace Prize, and praised dictators like Putin and Kim Jong-un.
A sexual predator, credibly accused by dozens of women and found liable for sexual abuse in court.
A white nationalist apologist who called neo-Nazis “very fine people” and stoked racial division.
A con artist who ran scams like Trump University and grifted $150 million from supporters in a fake “stop the steal” campaign.
A seditionist who incited a violent mob to storm the Capitol, attacking the foundation of American democracy.
A national security threat who hoarded classified documents in his private residence and flaunted them to unqualified individuals.
A vindictive bully who mocked disabled reporters, insulted veterans, and attacked anyone who challenged him.
A tax cheat who bragged about paying nothing while facing decades of financial fraud investigations.
A climate saboteur who gutted over 100 environmental protections and denied the science of climate change.
A COVID-19 disaster whose incompetence and misinformation contributed to the deaths of over a million Americans.
A racist provocateur who sought to ban Muslims, derided African nations as “shithole countries,” and told U.S. citizens to “go back” to their countries of origin.
A grifter-in-chief who funneled taxpayer dollars into his businesses, blatantly violating the Emoluments Clause.
A wannabe autocrat who idolized despots, undermined democratic institutions, and dreamed of unchecked power.
A human foghorn whose divisive rhetoric fractured families, communities, and the nation.
A master manipulator who peddled conspiracy theories and weaponized fear to consolidate power.
A petulant child who threw tantrums over crowd sizes and petty grievances.
A national embarrassment who alienated allies, emboldened enemies, and degraded America’s standing on the world stage.
A man devoid of empathy, whose first reaction to tragedy or loss was, “What about me?”
etc., ad infinitum, ad nauseam. So yes, there was a binary choice: a decent, aging man with some lapses—versus a hurricane of ego, malice, and incompetence who left destruction in his wake. A no-brainer, really.
Happy pills? Imagine him without them.
As an ex-meth user, I can vouch for every single word you said. I know how it fucked me up, I knew it even as I used it. Addiction to stimulants will short circuit your brain and wreck your life. I quit and avoided disaster but know others who did not and the difference in how our lives turned out is staggering. Anyone feeling like I did during those crazy days shouldn't be in charge of feeding a pet, much less being POTUS.
Thank you for sharing your experience and perspective—it adds so much weight to this conversation. Your insight as someone who’s been through the devastating effects of stimulant addiction is incredibly valuable and courageous. The contrast you’ve drawn between your life and the lives of those who didn’t escape the grip of addiction is a powerful reminder of just how destructive it can be. You’re absolutely right—anyone struggling with the chaos of addiction has no business holding the immense responsibility of leadership, especially at this level. Thank you for speaking out and for turning your own story into a message of awareness and truth. Your voice matters.
So, too, with his choices for his cabinet and executive orders.
Yes, THIS!! Fully, 100% can attest to this, not that I have been on the inside of his -circle-, but I HAVE "been there" from the POV of someone who has struggled with substance use since he was 10 years old.
If I had to -guess- what he was using, I'd go with Adderall and Klonapin, or Valium. I have not written a long form essay on here yet, but you've convinced me I should start there, because I believe I may be able to add an important perspective. I'm certain of the Adderall use, because the rants he'd call in to Fox & Friends, where it was so -clearly- "just kicking in", would actually make me start -craving- the stuff again.
There is a "state specific memory" type of thing that happens with me, certain music will bring it on as well, but those rants would bring it on BIG TIME! I'd recognize it -anywhere-, the motor mouthing, and random word/thought association are a big tell. Dangerous is an understatement, if where that cocktail led me is any metric, my combo was Adderall, methadone, and clonazepam, and things got pretty dark....
Your perspective is invaluable, and you absolutely should write that essay—it sounds like it could shed light on a reality most people don’t fully grasp. Your insight into the behaviors and patterns tied to substance use, especially when observing someone like Trump, is both chilling and critical. That "state specific memory" you describe adds a visceral layer to understanding his infamous Fox & Friends rants. Dangerous is right—when the man leading the country exhibits behaviors that mirror such destructive patterns, the potential fallout isn’t just personal; it’s national. Your voice could make a real impact in highlighting these dangers. Write it. The world needs to hear this.
Working on it, but I have A LOT on my plate rn, explanation fot THAT will probably be forthcoming as well, seems as good a topic as any. Suffice to say, without going into detail, I'm just working against a clock at the moment, which will kind of decide whether I have a roof, or am pushing my belongings around in a shopping cart, so it's tough to fit it all in, "priorities", cause you know, I don't want it to be slap dash, and/or crappy either lol....
Thank you, your description is chilling.
Shhhhhhhhh! Hitler's downfall was due, in appreciable measure, to the debilitating effects of his long-term opiod addiction. Your open letter captures the facts and public understanding of Trump's on-going substance abuse and gives renewed hope that time is on our side. Please, please, PLEASE don't shame him into recovery.
Dr Ronnie was making deliveries weekly of adderall, ketamine and a wide range of psychotropic medications to the Trump White House… sayin!!
Yes! I recall the report on rampant drug misuse in the WH-remember the inventory lists?
This might help explain the swaying to music for aover half an hour. I can't believe people watched that and thouht, that's our next presedent right there.
I saw this as well; yet some people still think that this is trump being trump, or that he is just entertaining his audience.....oh well...
Sure, it could drugs. He could also be a narcissistic jackhole with no self-control. He’s rich and powerful so everyone kowtows to him and the cycle keeps repeating because nobody has ever made pay a price for his shitty behavior. As long as everyone kisses his ring or his shoes or his bunghole, he has no reason to change and at his age I doubt he’s capable of correcting his behavior anyway.
Why not both? And being rich and powerful is the only thing saving him from himself. No one survives being a stimulant addict without the help of lots of money and an enabling covey of caretakers.
and there you have JD Vance getting ready to invoke the 25th.
Even as scary as Trump! Although Vance is young and healthy he has the mean spirited streak and holier than thou attitude! Where’s the deep dive into this MAGAot?
Coming soon!
That seems less frightening than it did a week ago.
Shudder!
He should be tested for drugs.
Biden was physically diminished but mentally acute. Dump us a raging, psychopathic drug addict who is massively susceptible to outside influences. We are fucked.
True about Joe Biden, but he was also doing the job, performing the duties required, sometimes working late into the night, and this can have an effect on an individual well into his/her mid-late 70s. This is a clear contrast to a 70+age 2-year-old who spends his time swinging golf clubs at all hours, and spends other hours swinging a sledgehammer on our nation, the Constitution, and our allies abroad.
Oh..but he doesn't use alcohol..how conscientious of him.
Just gallons of Diet Coke-another addiction.
Why was this not daily front page news prior to the election?
Ask the WA PO. Ask The NY Times. Ask any of the major newspapers in major metropolitan cities coast to coast. Ask Morning Joe. Ask Faux “News” Entertainment.
I’ve ended my subscriptions to those and will be looking a news outlet with a backbone and not a brown nose.
The Contrairin
Good question.
That is indeed the million dollar question.
How has he not od’d? Especially as old and unfit and unhealthy he is. We already know his GI track is shot, hence the diapers.
I didn’t know this about him! I knew he didn’t drink, but not that he took drugs and is incontinent. I’ve always thought he was a lying, cheating traitor who should be in jail because he is a crook. This throws a lot of light on his monstrous behavior.
If we know this why doesn't anyone do anything about it?!!!!
You’ve brought up such an important point, Pam! It’s really frustrating to see issues like this not getting the attention they deserve (while so much trivial content is obsessed over). Mainstream media often doesn’t cover these topics as thoroughly as we’d like, which is why independent platforms like Substack are so crucial.
They allow writers to dive deeper into stories that might be overlooked, giving us a chance to learn more about what’s really going on. It’s great that you’re asking these questions—having conversations about them is a step toward accountability. Let’s keep pushing for the answers we need!
P.S. If you haven't already, please subscribe to my Substack. 😊
Because their proximity to his power is like a drug to them which they can’t give up. The ones closest to him are probably actually the ones truly “managing” him, and they are getting what they’ve been aiming for—turning the USA into an authoritarian christian theocracy, i.e. project 2025.
Not to mention he is allegedly a compulsive diet Coke drinker, 12 a day.
Toxic chemicals (drugs and the diet Coke itself), plus a staggering amount of caffeine.
It has been noted, though not formally diagnosed, Malignant Narcissism.
Mixed with an unhealthy diet, there is no way his body or brain could be fully optimal.
(I have studied Brain Injuries as a lay person for two decades. In my little bit of research and curiosity, mental health issues and chemicals, never ends well.)
Thank you for sharing this, it puts some very important puzzle pieces into helping this make sense.
I wish the authorities would catch him with drugs on him. But he thinks he’s untouchable and above the law. Or….maybe he’ll OD.
Cocaine is what is rubbed on gums and snorted . No one snorts Adderall .... I've been around users for 60+ years and believe me . Also that's why He had to leave the hospital when he had Covid and go for a ride ..to see his fans. It was obvious ..if you've ever scored or no someone who just scored ...that was tRumk to a T in his backseat thumbs up pose ....without a doubt .