In the United States today, there exists more political division than ever before. People are hurting economically, regardless of their political ideologies. Over half of our politicians either pass regressive policies to enrich themselves or lounge around and trade stocks. Yet, the electorate seem overly obsessed with fighting manufactured culture wars instead of standing in solidarity to make it clear that any politician with brain damage must resign immediately. In this decade alone, we have witnessed a handful of politicians with cognitive decline clinging onto power with no regard whatsoever for the well being of the people.

I want to make it clear that as a Social Democrat, I am against all forms of bigotry, ageism included. Our goal must be about bringing people together instead of creating unnecessary division. Therefore, a hard age cap is unfair, because everybody ages differently. For context, on my father’s side, my grandmother passed away at the age of 32 while my grandfather lived until the age of 102. Bernie Sanders and Joe Biden are about the same age. At 85, Bernie still has a sharp mind, giving speeches at his Fighting Oligarchy tour and leading the Progressive Movement. Biden had to resign in disgrace after his cognitive decline was put on full display at the presidential debate back in 2024.

While US politicians with cognitive decline have existed since the 20th century, the issue has never been so extreme. In recent times, Americans have experienced a sharp rise in a handful of high profile politicians with cognitive decline from both major parties. Even worse, these politicians often refuse to release their medical histories to the public, while their respective political parties offer countless excuses to the press. What good is a politician if their brains are not sharp? Wouldn’t it be easy for others to influence their actions? What if a foreign adversary persuades them to vote against American interests? These and other questions are on the minds of many Americans, and they have every right to be concerned.

Let’s start with Mitch McConnell, a US Senator from Kentucky. This dirtbag who tried to block COVID stimulus checks during the first Trump administration has publicly frozen up three times on camera, often lasting 30 seconds. In June 2026, McConnell was hospitalized after falling and losing consciousness. He disappeared from his job for months without appropriate updates. Official reports cleared him of any serious health issues, allowing him to return to the US Senate in September 2026. However, what the public saw with their own eyes clearly proved something was seriously wrong with his brain. It does not take a medical specialist to realize that freezing up and failing to answer questions is a major sign of cognitive decline.

What about John Fetterman? Back in 2022, he was a newly elected US Senator from Pennsylvania. Not long after, he suffered a major stroke that starved his brain cells of oxygen, causing permanent damage. This is one clearly known case of brain damage, yet he was allowed to return to the US Senate as if nothing had happened. Whenever he is interviewed these days, his speech patterns are very concerning. Americans deserve better; it is morally wrong to force people to accept a brain-dead leader who no longer has the ability to represent them.

In early 2023, US Senator Dianne Feinstein of California suffered from inflammation and swelling of the brain. She was absent from the Senate for several months and missed 91 votes. When she returned, she was seen in a wheelchair and often looked confused. She cast her last vote just hours before she passed away in office on September 29th, 2023. Situations like this will definitely damage National confidence and morale. Not only is the situation embarrassing, but it projects weakness and signals a country in decline. Is this the kind of image the US wants to project to their adversaries?

Good old Joe Biden. Yes, I am not going to let him off the hook for his cognitive decline either. Debating Trump would normally be an easy task, because he is someone who spouts nonsense with every word he speaks. With facts on Biden’s side, he should have dominated the debate stage. What happened in reality was a tired Biden who froze up for 14 seconds, lost his train of thought and replied “Look, we finally beat Medicare.” The White House blamed Biden’s poor performance on a cold and jet lag from a long overseas flight. Others tried to justify his performance by saying he over prepared. The problem is that these are all excuses. Part of being the president of any country is handling a busy schedule. Anyone incapable of doing so is unfit for the office.

President Donald Trump definitely exhibits cognitive decline. His advantage is that he has lied every day for decades, leading people to assume he is simply lying once again. Unlike Biden, Trump gets away with lying on a daily basis because the establishment media does not hold him accountable. Therefore, it is much easier for Trump to hide his cognitive decline. During speeches, Trump has mixed up the names of different countries or stated the wrong historical timelines. Other times, he has dozed off during official meetings. Additionally, he often rambles when he speaks, which is a sign of cognitive decline. The ultimate betrayal is that he still has not released his medical records.

In the military, if a soldier loses a leg, they will transition to non-combat roles, join staff operations, or retire from service. If a surgeon develops shaky hands, no sane patient would want to be operated by that doctor. When a truck driver becomes blind, they would no longer be seen fit to operate behind the wheels. The role of hard labor or physical work requires physical precision. The same principle must be applied to positions that require mental labor.

The Constitution of the United States must be amended to include a passage requiring any politician suspected of cognitive decline to either release their medical records in full to prove fitness for office or resign. Doing so would be the most effective way to prevent zombie politicians from wielding power and making grave mistakes. As law-abiding citizens, one of our most patriotic duties is demanding that politicians prove they are fit for office, especially when cognitive decline is suspected. The United States cannot afford to have a president die in office one day, since that would be a betrayal of democratic principles. Let’s not follow the footsteps of ‘Communist’ China, where Chairman Mao Zedong died in power.