Donald Trump, the oldest U.S. President at 78, underwent his initial physical examination of his second term on Friday at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, which included a series of medical tests. He stated on Truth Social that he felt prepared for the check-up, noting that while he felt excellent, these examinations are necessary.
The extent of medical information to be released by the White House about Trump’s exams remains uncertain.
It has been seven years since Trump released comprehensive details about his health. Despite promising to do so during the 2024 campaign, he did not, breaking with established precedent. After sustaining an ear injury during an assassination attempt in July, his former physician, Ronny Jackson—now a Texas congressman—shared a describing the ear wound.
During the latter part of Trump’s first term, the White House reduced the amount of health information shared publicly. Following his hospitalization at Walter Reed with a severe COVID-19 case in October 2020, limited details were released about his health. Similarly, in 2019, his medical checkup was not disclosed on his public schedule until days later, and minimal information was provided about the results.
The last instance of detailed public information regarding Trump’s health was in 2018. During a check-up at Walter Reed in 2018, overseen by Jackson, Trump’s heart rate and blood work were reported as normal. At that time, Trump was taking a statin for cholesterol, aspirin, Propecia for hair loss, and received vaccinations for pneumococcal pneumonia and hepatitis A and B.
Jackson addressed reporters in the White House briefing room, answering questions about the examination. He remarked that Trump had “incredible genes” but advised him to increase exercise and improve his diet, suggesting that with a healthier diet over the past 20 years, Trump might live to be 200.
Jackson was not the first of Trump’s physicians to exaggerate about his health.
During Trump’s 2015 presidential campaign, his personal physician Harold Bornstein issued a very positive health assessment. Bornstein stated that if Trump were elected in 2016, he would be “the healthiest individual elected to the presidency,” which appeared to be an unscientific embellishment in a medical report. Three years later, Bernstein told CNN that Trump had dictated the letter.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters on Friday that Trump’s physician will “provide an update” after the President’s physical “in the effort of transparency.” She criticized the Biden White House for a “lack of transparency” regarding Biden’s “health and competence” and accused reporters of a “cover up.” This followed instances where President Biden had confused countries’ names, lost his train of thought, reduced press conferences, and limited interactions with the press.
—With reporting by Nik Popli
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