NEW YORK — President Donald Trump’s mental health is not a public issue, a psychiatrist said Wednesday.
The president’s supporters have made him out to be a danger to the country.
But psychiatrist Dr. Jeffrey Kessler, who has treated more than 150 presidents, told reporters he’s not sure if Trump is mentally ill or not.
Kessler has worked with dozens of presidents, including Ronald Reagan, Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, Jimmy Carter and George H.W. Bush.
“It’s very difficult for me to answer that question,” Kessler said.
“I think you have to ask a psychiatrist.”
Trump is a public figure who is known for his controversial statements, including his assertion that President Barack Obama was born in Kenya and has repeatedly denied accusations of sexual misconduct and a cover-up of his campaign’s ties to Russia.
He’s also been embroiled in controversy since the FBI said last month it was investigating his campaign over its alleged ties to Russian government officials.
Trump has said he does not have a problem with his health, but Kessler said that his office had a hard time assessing Trump’s level of mental health.
He said the president was more vulnerable to emotional distress than others because he has a history of being emotionally unstable.
Trump has been criticized for his behavior during his presidential campaign, which he says was fueled by frustration and anger, but his advisers have said he had bipolar disorder.
Trump is also being investigated for alleged obstruction of justice in the firing of former FBI Director James Comey, a move that led to the ouster of Mueller, who is leading the probe into Russia’s interference in the 2016 election.
But Kessler said he was surprised Trump did not seek out help in his campaign or in his administration before he fired Comey.
Instead, he said, Trump is using his office to advance his agenda.
Kessler said that Trump’s health has not been a factor in his decision to fire Comey.
Trump has repeatedly said he is fine, and he has said that he’s feeling much better, but that has not stopped him from using the Russia probe as a distraction to get re-elected.
Kellner said that during his years as a private practitioner, he did not see a pattern of the president’s mental well-being deteriorating.
“He’s got a very stable and healthy mind.
He’s got good moods,” Kessler told reporters.
“He doesn’t seem to have any sort of mood disorder or mental illness.
It’s a very well-balanced person.”
He said that, although the president has been mentally ill for some time, there is a risk that the president may be using his presidency as a publicity stunt.
“That’s a risk.
It’s an extremely risky risk to the president and to the American people, and there is very little chance that he has an issue with his mental health,” Kessler added.
