• University of Surrey professor says adversaries will “see any decline as an opportunity”
• President dismisses health concerns, claims he’s “aced” multiple cognitive tests
• Persistent hand bruising and episodes of apparent fatigue fuel ongoing speculation

WASHINGTON, D.C. (TDR) — Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese leader Xi Jinping are carefully monitoring for signs that President Trump health decline could present strategic opportunities, according to an expert who warns that America’s adversaries are poised to capitalize on any perceived weakness.

Mark Shanahan, associate professor of Political Engagement at the University of Surrey, issued the warning in an interview with i paper, cautioning that the 79-year-old president’s apparent physical and cognitive struggles have not gone unnoticed on the world stage.

Adversaries See ‘Opportunity to Press Their Interests’

“Trump’s reputation is already ‘handle with care’ among world leaders,” Shanahan told the publication. He added that both Russia and China view any signs of decline as a potential opening.

“The likes of Putin and Xi will see any decline as an opportunity to press their interests—something they have already been successful in during 2025, while traditional friends and partners will increasingly see Trump as an unreliable ally.”

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The warning comes as Trump faces mounting scrutiny over his stamina and mental acuity. The New York Times reported that the president has significantly reduced his workload in his second term, keeping public hours largely between noon and 5 p.m. and scaling back travel as fatigue apparently mounts.

Trump Health Decline: Bruised Hands and Cabinet Naps

The president has been repeatedly photographed with persistent bruising on his right hand, which the White House attributes to aspirin use and frequent handshaking. In early December, he was spotted wearing large Band-Aids to cover the discoloration during a Cabinet meeting—the same gathering where he appeared to doze off multiple times.

The MRI scan Trump underwent in October further fueled speculation. When asked aboard Air Force One what part of his body was scanned, Trump replied: “I have no idea. It was just an MRI—what part of the body? It wasn’t the brain, because I took a cognitive test and I aced it.”

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California Representative Sydney Kamlager-Dove posted speculation on social media suggesting the symptoms could be consistent with Alzheimer’s medication, though the White House has denied any such treatment.

Trump Fires Back at ‘Fake News’

The president has aggressively pushed back against health-related coverage, dismissing reports as politically motivated attacks. On Saturday, Trump claimed he is in “perfect health” and has “aced” multiple cognitive assessments.

“I go out of my way to do long, thorough, and very boring Medical Examinations at the Great Walter Reed National Military Medical Center,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. “I did something no other president’s ever done.”

During a recent Cabinet meeting, Trump told reporters he has taken at least three cognitive exams and passed them all. “These are questions that I would say 99 percent of the people that I’m talking to right now, meaning the people from the fake news, would not do well in those exams.”

Expert: Public ‘Won’t Hold Back’ If Decline Accelerates

Shanahan warned that if Trump’s apparent aging continues to manifest publicly, the political consequences could be significant—much as they were for his predecessor Joe Biden.

“If Trump’s age really is catching up with him fast, the American public beyond the MAGA core won’t hold back in making their disquiet clear,” Shanahan said.

The professor noted that Trump is “visibly in decline and becoming angrier by the day.”

At 79, Trump is the oldest person inaugurated as president. Should he complete his term, he would be 82 on January 20, 2029—making him by far the oldest sitting president in American history.

Will Trump’s health remain stable enough to complete his term, or will rivals abroad and critics at home force a reckoning?

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