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highplainsdem

(58,414 posts)
Tue Sep 30, 2025, 08:10 PM Tuesday

Google is blocking AI searches for Trump and dementia

Source: The Verge

Google appears to have blocked AI search results for the query “does trump show signs of dementia” as well as other questions about his mental acuity, even though it will show AI results for similar searches about other presidents.

When making the search about President Trump, AI Overviews will display a message that says, “An AI Overview is not available for this search”:

-snip-

Go directly to AI Mode, and you’ll only receive a list of 10 web results instead of a summarized page of information:

-snip-

Similar searches about Trump are limited in the same way. Various queries about dementia, Alzheimer’s, and senility display no AI overview and only produce a list of links inside AI Mode.

-snip-

Read more: https://www.theverge.com/news/789152/google-ai-searches-blocking-trump-dementia-biden



With queries about Biden, Google doesn't offer an AI summary, just links. But if you go to AI mode, you will get an AI summary abour Biden with a preliminary paragraph saying its answer isn't definitive because it's based only on public information.

The Verge staff thinks Google is afraid of Trump.
30 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
Google is blocking AI searches for Trump and dementia (Original Post) highplainsdem Tuesday OP
Working now. Just checked. Joinfortmill Tuesday #1
just checked now. not working. Javaman Wednesday #16
I tried it at 1 pm Eastern time on Wed, Oct 1. yardwork Wednesday #20
I got results when markodochartaigh Tuesday #2
Here's what you google FakeNoose Tuesday #3
Yes but if you do just a regular search and add any President but FatFuck the AI overview works Cheezoholic Tuesday #8
Firefox (dunno other browsers) defaults to "All" mode for Google (lots of results), with "AI" as a separate sub-tab. Bernardo de La Paz Wednesday #11
thank you! nt Javaman Wednesday #17
Duck duck, GreenWave Tuesday #4
DuckDuckGo shows lots of results for "does trump show signs of dementia" (no quote marks) . . . . nt Bernardo de La Paz Tuesday #10
Oui! Mme. Defarge Wednesday #28
Well, Microsoft Bing has no problem addressing it with its AI... hlthe2b Tuesday #5
Hah! I finally broke AI google! Now Epstein/Trump Buddyzbuddy Tuesday #6
Hillary Clinton and Dementia results DrFunkenstein Tuesday #7
Just Google "Trump has dementia"---you'll get lots of articles! SunSeeker Tuesday #9
I didn't at first. yardwork Wednesday #21
Getting it on an old Windows 7 desktop CountAllVotes Wednesday #12
Google is definitely blocking information, and it's not just about Trump and dementia. summer_in_TX Wednesday #13
Good! We all need to stop relying on google...in fact I think it's time for a boycott! PortTack Wednesday #15
Good point! summer_in_TX Yesterday #29
I switched to Duck Duck Go. tonekat 23 hrs ago #30
F..K google search on another site duck duck go PortTack Wednesday #14
LOL...it's AI but then it can be blocked? What a silly bunch of tech sounding bullshit Bengus81 Wednesday #18
via DuckDuckGo CountAllVotes Wednesday #19
Circled back today and, yup, no info on Donald Trump and demential. So, I did this... Joinfortmill Wednesday #22
I use Duck, too. I don't use Google for anything, not even email. Raftergirl Wednesday #23
Just tried it and only got search results jgmiller Wednesday #24
I asked the question Miguelito Loveless Wednesday #25
That was a good prompt you created jgmiller Wednesday #26
Who needs to search Coldwater Wednesday #27

Javaman

(64,577 posts)
16. just checked now. not working.
Wed Oct 1, 2025, 07:36 AM
Wednesday

frankly, I'm okay with this. I hate the AI slop anyway. I wish there was a way to turn off the google AI.

yardwork

(68,181 posts)
20. I tried it at 1 pm Eastern time on Wed, Oct 1.
Wed Oct 1, 2025, 01:12 PM
Wednesday

I typed "Trump dementia" into the google search box and got... nothing. A blank page. I've never seen that before.

I tried again a couple of times and still got a blank page. Weird.

I tried again "Trump signs of dementia" and got the captcha robot test page. After accurately identifying all pics with a motorcycle, I got... the captcha page again. Did it again and finally got a list of links, mostly "Google accused of blocking searches for Trump and dementia." No AI summary.

I tried it with "Biden dementia" and instantly got a long list of links.

Yep. Google is up to something. Protecting Trump.

markodochartaigh

(4,221 posts)
2. I got results when
Tue Sep 30, 2025, 08:20 PM
Tuesday

I substituted "Biden", "Bush", "Obama", and even "Carter", but when I used "Trump" I got
"An AI Overview is not available for this search".

FakeNoose

(38,843 posts)
3. Here's what you google
Tue Sep 30, 2025, 08:26 PM
Tuesday

"trump dementia -ai"

Anytime you search for something in google, type ... "-ai "... after the term and it gives you results WITHOUT the AI input.

Cheezoholic

(3,337 posts)
8. Yes but if you do just a regular search and add any President but FatFuck the AI overview works
Tue Sep 30, 2025, 09:39 PM
Tuesday

I think that was the point of the OP. When you add FatFucks name you get an AI overview unavailable (only on google I've seen) as stated. I tried FatFuck and dementia and that didn't work either lol. Your advice is good practice for those not familiar and that don't want to see the AI crap (although it's still collecting the search data in the background). I've edited any google search in chrome to automatically add -ai so I don't get the ai overview although I'm usually on Linux and stay away from the techbro crap as much as I can. It's getting impossible though, they are shoving shit at us like there's no tomorrow, like we're heroine addicts.

Bernardo de La Paz

(59,163 posts)
11. Firefox (dunno other browsers) defaults to "All" mode for Google (lots of results), with "AI" as a separate sub-tab.
Wed Oct 1, 2025, 12:01 AM
Wednesday

Thus, a similar experience to your "-ai" search. Regardless, thank you for your suggestion.

Bernardo de La Paz

(59,163 posts)
10. DuckDuckGo shows lots of results for "does trump show signs of dementia" (no quote marks) . . . . nt
Tue Sep 30, 2025, 11:55 PM
Tuesday

hlthe2b

(111,546 posts)
5. Well, Microsoft Bing has no problem addressing it with its AI...
Tue Sep 30, 2025, 08:34 PM
Tuesday

Summarizing both what psychologists/psychiatrists and other medical experts have surmised and that of the general public, with the qualifier that no official diagnosis has been made public. It does mention the contradictory messaging from the White House, though.

Buddyzbuddy

(1,599 posts)
6. Hah! I finally broke AI google! Now Epstein/Trump
Tue Sep 30, 2025, 08:56 PM
Tuesday

I mean A-1Google. I knew my searches would pay off.
.
Epstein/Trump, Epstein/Trump
Never meth with a thithilian!

DrFunkenstein

(8,838 posts)
7. Hillary Clinton and Dementia results
Tue Sep 30, 2025, 09:29 PM
Tuesday

does clinton show signs of dementia

"While some public health rumors and discredited claims have circulated, there is no evidence that former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is showing signs of dementia. Medical records released during her 2016 presidential campaign indicated she was in "excellent mental condition". Rumors of dementia have been repeatedly debunked over the years."

does Trump show signs of dementia

"An AI Overview is not available for this search"

summer_in_TX

(3,850 posts)
13. Google is definitely blocking information, and it's not just about Trump and dementia.
Wed Oct 1, 2025, 01:19 AM
Wednesday

For instance, during the Texas House Dems breaking quorum, I wanted to make a donation to help with their costs. But I could not find a link to donate on Google no matter the search terms. I switched to DuckDuckGo and found it in the top results.

summer_in_TX

(3,850 posts)
29. Good point!
Thu Oct 2, 2025, 12:53 AM
Yesterday

A good reason to change my landing page.

(It won't be a pure fast though. I have perhaps 15 google email addresses and use Google Workspace for Nonprofits for three of the four nonprofits I volunteer with.)

CountAllVotes

(21,973 posts)
19. via DuckDuckGo
Wed Oct 1, 2025, 11:02 AM
Wednesday

>>Concerns About Donald Trump's Health

Donald Trump, at 79 years old, has faced scrutiny regarding his cognitive health. Observations of unusual behavior, such as forgetting names during public appearances, have raised concerns about potential cognitive decline, including vascular dementia.
Recent Incidents

Forgetting the presence of individuals during press conferences
Confusion during speeches




Joinfortmill

(19,031 posts)
22. Circled back today and, yup, no info on Donald Trump and demential. So, I did this...
Wed Oct 1, 2025, 01:52 PM
Wednesday

I contacted Google and left a message telling them I was now using DuckDuckGo for my searches, since they were censoring their AI information. Boy, what weak-kneed f*cks Google management is.

jgmiller

(648 posts)
24. Just tried it and only got search results
Wed Oct 1, 2025, 02:53 PM
Wednesday

but when I asked the same for Biden it returned results. However when I tried the search on their Gemini App not just the site it returned a good response for Trump.

Remember AI is not really intelligence it's simply compling results from sources and producing the most logical response. They can of course manipulate how detailed a response it will give and even tell it to not produce a response but whatever it does it's just a essentially a statisical result from a vast volume of sources.

Miguelito Loveless

(5,229 posts)
25. I asked the question
Wed Oct 1, 2025, 03:38 PM
Wednesday

"Compare and contrast the symptoms of dementia of president Reagan and president Trump."

An AI Overview is not available for this search

jgmiller

(648 posts)
26. That was a good prompt you created
Wed Oct 1, 2025, 03:51 PM
Wednesday

I tried it on Google and got a very good result. My guess is they are testing the results, some people are getting nothing or a search result and others are getting the LLM.

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