Donald Trump compares mental health accusations to treatment of Ronald Reagan during his presidency

The President responds to explosive claims written in Fire and Fury: Inside the Trump White House, but critics point out Reagan did go on to be diagnosed with Alzheimer's

Monday 08 January 2018 16:32 GMT
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A number of allegations about Donald Trump's behaviour has been made by
A number of allegations about Donald Trump's behaviour has been made by (Reuters)

Donald Trump has compared the accusations he is facing about his mental health to the treatment Ronald Reagan received during his time as president.

The President has hit out at the account put forward in Michael Wolff’s book Fire and Fury: Inside the Trump White House, in which a number of allegations were made that alluded to his mental health.

Mr Reagan’s capacity for the role of president was often questioned during his time in office and five years after he left the White House he was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s.

His son, Ron Reagan, claimed that he noticed his father’s mental health deteriorating in his first term as president, the Guardian reported.

But Mr Trump said Mr Reagan handled the accusations from his time as president “well” and he would do the same.

“I’ve had to put up with the Fake News from the first day I announced that I would be running for President. Now I have to put up with a Fake Book, written by a totally discredited author. Ronald Reagan had the same problem and handled it well. So will I!” Mr Trump tweeted.

In a separate tweet the President directly tackled the accusations about his mental health.

“Now that Russian collusion, after one year of intense study, has proven to be a total hoax on the American public, the Democrats and their lapdogs, the Fake News Mainstream Media, are taking out the old Ronald Reagan playbook and screaming mental stability and intelligence.

“Actually, throughout my life, my two greatest assets have been mental stability and being, like, really smart. Crooked Hillary Clinton also played these cards very hard and, as everyone knows, went down in flames.

“I went from VERY successful businessman, to top T.V. Star to President of the United States (on my first try). I think that would qualify as not smart, but genius....and a very stable genius at that!” Mr Trump said on Twitter.

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