Trump’s Health Update: Doctor Declares “Excellent Health”

WASHINGTON: After his first annual medical checkup since reassuming the US presidency, Donald Trump is in “excellent health,” according to a White House physician’s assessment released on Sunday.

Since beginning his second term, the 78-year-old Republican has frequently touted his vitality, contrasting it with his 82-year-old Democratic predecessor, Joe Biden, whom he has portrayed as declining and mentally unfit for the job.

A letter from the physician, shared by the White House, stated, “President Trump demonstrates outstanding cognitive and physical health and is completely capable of performing the responsibilities of Commander-in-Chief and Head of State.”

The assessment noted a few minor issues, including slight sun damage to Trump’s skin and a scar on his right ear resulting from a gunshot wound sustained during an assassination attempt last July.

A colonoscopy conducted the previous year revealed that Trump had diverticulosis—small pouches in the colon—and a benign polyp, according to the report. It recommended a follow-up examination in three years.

The report indicated that Trump is currently taking four medications: two for cholesterol management, aspirin for heart health, and a steroid cream for the skin.

Overall, the report was favorable, highlighting Trump’s “active lifestyle” and mentioning his “frequent victories in golf events”—a common boast of the billionaire who also avoids alcohol and tobacco.

However, he is known to enjoy fast food and prefers well-done steaks, although he appears noticeably slimmer compared to his first term.

The latest report indicates his current weight is 224 pounds (101.6 kilograms), a decrease from 243 pounds in 2019.

Trump commented on Friday that he felt “in very good shape” following his examination earlier that day at Walter Reed military hospital, located in the Washington suburbs.

“I took a cognitive test. I can only tell you that I answered every question correctly,” he told reporters while aboard Air Force One.

Past Health Claims

Trump has faced criticism for a perceived lack of transparency regarding his health, despite significant public interest in the well-being of the nation’s leader.

The White House had previously stated that presidential physician Sean Barbabella would provide a summary of the physical examination and that a complete report would be released.

However, both Trump’s personal physicians and White House doctors have, at times, made exaggerated statements about his health.

In 2015, during Trump’s initial presidential campaign, his physician Harold Bornstein issued a letter asserting that the tycoon “will be the healthiest individual ever elected to the presidency, without question.”

Bornstein later disclosed that Trump “dictated that entire letter. I didn’t write that letter.”

During Trump’s first term, White House doctor Ronny Jackson suggested in 2018 that, with a healthier diet, Trump could “live to be 200 years old.”

Jackson’s report at the time advised Trump to aim for a weight loss of 10 to 15 pounds but affirmed that he was generally in “excellent health,” noting no indications of “any cognitive issues.”

A subsequent examination in 2019 revealed that Trump, standing at 6-foot-3 (1.9 meters), weighed 243 pounds, marking a seven-pound increase since shortly before assuming office, technically classifying him as obese.

Age emerged as a significant factor in the 2024 election, which saw Trump and Biden compete as the oldest major-party candidates in US history.

After a shaky performance in a TV debate against Trump in June that highlighted concerns about his cognitive abilities, Biden withdrew from the race.