In a recent rally in Laconia, New Hampshire, former President Donald Trump sparked controversy as he discussed his campaign objective of mandating the death penalty for drug dealers. Trump’s speech drew attention for what some perceive as slurred words and partial incoherence.

Addressing his supporters, Trump claimed, “We have become a drug-infested, crime-ridden nation which is incapable of solving even the smallest, smallest problem.” He continued, “The simplest of problems, we can no longer solve. We can’t do anything, we are an institute in a powerful death penalty. We will put this on.” A clip of this segment was shared on social media, leading to speculation about the former president’s cognitive abilities.

The post, shared on X (formerly Twitter) by the account @BidenHQ, a self-described ‘project of Biden-Harris 2024,’ garnered 2.7 million views by Tuesday afternoon. Many users expressed concerns about Trump’s alleged cognitive decline, with one user stating, “This is just another clear example of how @realDonaldTrump’s cognitive abilities are declining very rapidly!” Another user commented, “Trump can no longer formulate coherent sentences.”

However, some defended Trump, drawing comparisons to President Joe Biden, who has faced criticism for gaffes and a lifelong stutter. A user remarked, “Trump may not make perfect sense at times, but does the Biden/Harris camp REALLY want to get into a battle over coherence and speeches? Remember, we are talking about Joe Biden and Kamala Harris here.”

Trump, who previously insisted he is not “cognitively impaired,” spoke clearly during the rally while emphasising the need for the death penalty to combat drug infestation. He argued, “We have to bring in the death penalty if we want to stop the infestation of drugs coming into our country.” Trump claimed that the only countries without a drug problem are those with a death penalty, adding, “Each dealer is responsible for the death, during their lives, of 500 people or more.”

Concluding his remarks, Trump asserted that instituting the death penalty is an “act of kindness.” The ongoing debate around the death penalty intensifies, particularly in light of plans to execute an Alabama death row inmate using nitrogen gas, a method never officially tested in the country’s history.