Video: Trump confuses Venezuela for Iran days after 'perfect' medical report
Donald Trump appeared to confuse Iran with Venezuela during a live cabinet meeting at the Oval Office. The remark spread online and prompted renewed scrutiny of his health after recent medical visits and verbal slips.
United States President Donald Trump triggered fresh scrutiny over his health after appearing to confuse Iran with Venezuela during a live-broadcast Cabinet meeting at the Oval Office, in what many online described as an 'alarming' moment.
Speaking about the escalating tensions in the Middle East and the absence of a peace agreement with Iran, Trump said, "I don't go into war, I go into conflict," before abruptly shifting into remarks about Venezuela while seemingly continuing to discuss Iran.
"Despite the conflict with Venezuela, which no longer has a navy, no longer has an air force, no longer has a lot of people that were leading the country into very bad places," Trump said during the meeting.
The US President did not correct himself or acknowledge the apparent mix-up. He continued by referring to the destruction of the country's leadership structure, remarks that appeared to align with his repeated claims about Iran rather than Venezuela.
"Their leadership is gone. Their second is gone. We’re dealing with half of their third as half of their third is gone too," Trump added.
The video clip quickly spread across social media platforms, where critics pointed to the moment as further evidence of what they described as a decline in the president’s cognitive sharpness.
At other points during the Cabinet meeting, Trump referred correctly to Iran and claimed that Secretary of War Pete Hegseth would "finish them off".
"Iran is very much intent, they want very much to make a deal," Trump said, insisting that Tehran was eager to negotiate and that the United States remained in a dominant position.
The remarks came shortly after Trump visited Walter Reed National Military Medical Center on Tuesday for what he described as a routine health examination. It marked his third medical appointment in the past 13 months.
Soon after leaving the facility, Trump posted on Truth Social that his health check-up had gone smoothly.
"Just finished my 6-month physical at Walter Reed Military Medical Center. Everything checked out PERFECTLY. Thank you to the great Doctors and Staff! Heading back to the White House. President DJT," he wrote.
Despite Trump's insistence that he remains in strong health, some medical experts who have publicly assessed his recent behaviour have expressed concern. The President has also faced attention in recent months over instances where he appeared drowsy during Cabinet meetings.
Dr Jonathan Reiner told CNN that chronic insomnia can have serious long-term consequences, particularly in older individuals.
"Chronic insomnia is a severe illness. It can result in an increase in risk of dementia, decrease in cognitive effects in older people," Reiner said, adding that it could also contribute to a broader "decline in your mental function".
The latest incident followed another recent verbal slip in which Trump reportedly confused Iran with Taiwan during public remarks last week.
Trump, who will turn 80 next month, became the oldest person to begin a US presidential term after returning to the White House in January 2025.
United States President Donald Trump triggered fresh scrutiny over his health after appearing to confuse Iran with Venezuela during a live-broadcast Cabinet meeting at the Oval Office, in what many online described as an 'alarming' moment.
Speaking about the escalating tensions in the Middle East and the absence of a peace agreement with Iran, Trump said, "I don't go into war, I go into conflict," before abruptly shifting into remarks about Venezuela while seemingly continuing to discuss Iran.
"Despite the conflict with Venezuela, which no longer has a navy, no longer has an air force, no longer has a lot of people that were leading the country into very bad places," Trump said during the meeting.
The US President did not correct himself or acknowledge the apparent mix-up. He continued by referring to the destruction of the country's leadership structure, remarks that appeared to align with his repeated claims about Iran rather than Venezuela.
"Their leadership is gone. Their second is gone. We’re dealing with half of their third as half of their third is gone too," Trump added.
The video clip quickly spread across social media platforms, where critics pointed to the moment as further evidence of what they described as a decline in the president’s cognitive sharpness.
At other points during the Cabinet meeting, Trump referred correctly to Iran and claimed that Secretary of War Pete Hegseth would "finish them off".
"Iran is very much intent, they want very much to make a deal," Trump said, insisting that Tehran was eager to negotiate and that the United States remained in a dominant position.
The remarks came shortly after Trump visited Walter Reed National Military Medical Center on Tuesday for what he described as a routine health examination. It marked his third medical appointment in the past 13 months.
Soon after leaving the facility, Trump posted on Truth Social that his health check-up had gone smoothly.
"Just finished my 6-month physical at Walter Reed Military Medical Center. Everything checked out PERFECTLY. Thank you to the great Doctors and Staff! Heading back to the White House. President DJT," he wrote.
Despite Trump's insistence that he remains in strong health, some medical experts who have publicly assessed his recent behaviour have expressed concern. The President has also faced attention in recent months over instances where he appeared drowsy during Cabinet meetings.
Dr Jonathan Reiner told CNN that chronic insomnia can have serious long-term consequences, particularly in older individuals.
"Chronic insomnia is a severe illness. It can result in an increase in risk of dementia, decrease in cognitive effects in older people," Reiner said, adding that it could also contribute to a broader "decline in your mental function".
The latest incident followed another recent verbal slip in which Trump reportedly confused Iran with Taiwan during public remarks last week.
Trump, who will turn 80 next month, became the oldest person to begin a US presidential term after returning to the White House in January 2025.
