Trump to Undergo Annual Physical at Walter Reed Friday/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Donald Trump will undergo his annual physical Friday, his first public health check since surviving a 2024 assassination attempt. At 78, he is the oldest president to be sworn in, yet details of his medical condition remain scarce. The exam raises renewed questions about presidential health transparency.
Trump’s Physical Sparks Health Transparency Debate: Quick Looks
- Trump undergoes annual physical Friday at Walter Reed Medical Center.
- It’s his first public health update since a 2024 assassination attempt.
- Trump is now the oldest U.S. president to take office at 78.
- He posted online: “I have never felt better.”
- Trump has repeatedly declined to release full medical records.
- Past health letters have lacked details on weight, blood pressure, or test results.
- Trump’s former doctors have praised his health but offered limited transparency.
- His 2020 COVID-19 illness was more severe than initially disclosed.
- Critics compare his record to Trump’s past scrutiny of Biden’s fitness.
- This physical could test whether he adopts a more transparent approach in his second term.
Trump to Undergo Annual Physical at Walter Reed Friday
Deep Look
Donald Trump will undergo a long-awaited physical exam Friday, marking the first official update on his health since surviving a July 2024 assassination attempt in Butler, Pennsylvania. The exam, to be held at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, comes as Trump, now 78, holds the distinction of being the oldest person ever sworn in as president—a fact that puts added pressure on transparency regarding his fitness.
Despite regularly questioning Joe Biden’s age and cognitive capacity, Trump has kept many basic medical details under wraps, opting for selectively released letters from friendly doctors rather than full reports.
On his social media platform, Trump struck a confident tone ahead of the exam: “I have never felt better, but nevertheless, these things must be done!”
But if history is any guide, the physical may again lack meaningful detail. Previous statements from his physicians, including his former White House doctor Ronny Jackson, offered high praise but little medical substance. Jackson once joked in the briefing room that Trump could “live to 200” with better eating habits.
A Pattern of Limited Disclosure
After the 2024 shooting, Trump declined to release medical records, opting instead for a memo from Jackson describing a gunshot wound to the right ear. In an August interview with CBS, Trump said he’d “very gladly” release full medical records but never followed through.
Even prior to the attempt on his life, the last official glimpse into Trump’s health came in November 2023. Dr. Bruce A. Aronwald, in a letter coinciding with Biden’s 81st birthday, declared Trump in “excellent physical and mental health,” but offered no hard metrics like weight, cholesterol, or cognitive test results.
In fact, Trump’s last known detailed medical evaluation dates back to early 2020, when he was hospitalized for COVID-19. Although the public was initially told he was doing well, later reports revealed the situation was far more serious, with White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows saying some of Trump’s vital signs were “very concerning.”
At the time, Trump opted to avoid a standard press briefing. Instead, he submitted to a pre-taped remote “evaluation” with Fox News contributor Dr. Marc Siegel, who had previously questioned Hillary Clinton’s health and later suggested Biden take a cognitive test.
A History of Surprise Medical Visits
In November 2019, Trump made an unannounced trip to Walter Reed for what he called a “very routine physical.” The visit was not on his public schedule, breaking long-standing protocol. Days later, the White House issued a vague explanation, calling it a “planned interim checkup” kept off the record due to “scheduling uncertainties.”
This pattern of selective disclosures and missed details has drawn criticism from medical transparency advocates and political opponents alike, especially given Trump’s relentless attacks on Biden’s age and health.
Most Memorable Health Moment? “Person. Woman. Man. Camera. TV.”
Arguably Trump’s most famous public comment on his health came during a 2020 TV interview, when he recited a cognitive test phrase—“Person. Woman. Man. Camera. TV.”—as proof of his mental acuity. The performance became a cultural reference point and was used by Trump supporters to underscore his fitness for office.
Despite such theatrics, the public has yet to receive comprehensive, medically verified updates on Trump’s health—something most recent presidents have provided annually.
Now, as he enters his second term under even more scrutiny, the question is whether Friday’s physical will break the pattern and offer real transparency, or simply repeat the rose-colored assessments of the past.
You must Register or Login to post a comment.