Donald Trump’s campaign strategy has taken an unexpected turn: a tendency to sidestep direct answers with a rambling tactic he’s coined “The Weave.” During an appearance at the Economic Club of Chicago, Trump’s habit of veering from topic to topic — leaping from the U.S. dollar to French President Emmanuel Macron in one breath — left even Bloomberg Editor-in-Chief John Micklethwait visibly exasperated. When Micklethwait pressed him to clarify his thoughts on the dollar, Trump cut him off with, “You’ve got to be able to finish a thought,” as the audience broke into laughter.
This pattern of incoherence has drawn concerns beyond the campaign trail. Trump’s niece, Mary Trump, weighed in, claiming media outlets are “sanewashing” his rants, diluting his statements to present a more coherent narrative. She emphasized that “The Weave” is a signal of mental decline, saying, “Biden may be aging, but Donald is dementing.” This sentiment echoes findings from a recent New York Times analysis highlighting Trump’s disjointed speech patterns as evidence of cognitive struggles.
Despite his unpredictable rhetoric, Trump has received limited criticism for his oratory style in 2024. But live audiences, faced with his unfiltered rambling, are noticing. In a recent viral clip, he veered off on tariffs, childcare, and even Christian voting patterns in response to questions about affordable childcare, leaving even supportive audiences perplexed. For now, Trump is doubling down on “The Weave” to keep the conversation moving, though many are left wondering if his unique strategy is just a cover for growing cognitive issues.
