A Pennsylvania Democrat is insisting that President Trump is “unwell,” pointing to his unusual speech before a gathering of military leaders.

Rep. Madeleine Dean confronted House Speaker Mike Johnson in a viral clip captured in the U.S. Capitol hallway, saying the Louisiana Republican should intervene.

“I am gravely worried for the leadership of the United States,” Ms. Dean told CNN in a later interview. “I want this president to succeed, but it is clear to me that he is unwell.”

Ms. Dean’s insistence that Mr. Trump is suffering a cognitive decline followed a speech to generals at Quantico, Virginia, in which he recounted his accomplishments and spoke about using cities as “training grounds.”

Ms. Dean’s confrontation with Mr. Johnson was captured by nearby cameras and spread on social media.

“The president is unhinged. He is unwell,” the congresswoman said.

“A lot of folks on your side are, too,” Mr. Johnson said.

“Oh my God, please,” Ms. Dean shot back. “That performance in front of the generals?”

“ I didn’t see it,” the speaker said.

“It’s so dangerous,” Ms. Dean said. “Our allies are looking elsewhere. Our enemies are laughing. You have a president who is unwell.”

Ms. Dean’s position reflects years of Democrats calling Mr. Trump unstable or too fixated on his own image.

Republicans also criticized President Biden’s acumen during his four-year term, with worries about his advanced age reaching a crescendo after a woeful debate performance in June 2024 that resulted in his ouster from the Democratic ticket.

Mr. Trump, 79, and his team chafe at the idea he’s suffering a similar decline. They point to his busy schedule and willingness to field questions from reporters.

Mr. Trump has described himself as a “very stable genius” and boasted about his top score on a cognitive test.

Ms. Dean says something is changing in Mr. Trump’s second term.

“He’s aging; aren’t we all? I think we can very much notice that. He’s a very different man than he was in his first term,” she told CNN. “He’s slower, he’s a little more lethargic. But much more important to me is what he is saying before the world.”

Ms. Dean, 66, has served in the House since January 2019 and was a manager for Mr. Trump’s second impeachment in 2021.

She took issue with Mr. Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth pulling generals from all parts of the globe for a type of pep rally. In criticizing the president’s speech, she pointed to his observation of warship design.

“Does he want them to be gold or something? Just bizarre comments that meandered,” she said. “Some of the generals were trying to take notes, and they just abandoned their notes because it was incoherent.”

• Tom Howell Jr. can be reached at thowell@washingtontimes.com.