Trump says he’s in ‘excellent health’ following first medical exam of potential second term

WASHINGTON, April 12 — Donald Trump declared he was in “very good shape” yesterday following his first annual medical checkup since returning to the presidency — a spotlight moment on the fitness of the oldest person ever elected to the White House.

The 78-year-old Republican, who has frequently highlighted his own vitality while ridiculing his 82-year-old Democratic predecessor Joe Biden as frail and mentally unfit, now finds himself the subject of growing scrutiny.

“I felt I was in very good shape. Good heart,” Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One, adding, “I took a cognitive test. I don’t know what to tell you other than I got every answer right.”

Earlier in the day, Trump visited Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in the Washington suburbs after a delay caused by trade talks. “I have never felt better, but nevertheless, these things must be done!” he posted on Truth Social earlier this week.

Trump, who has faced criticism in the past for a lack of transparency regarding his health, said he underwent both cardiovascular and cognitive evaluations. A report by his doctor is expected to be released on Sunday.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed the president’s strong condition, saying, “I can confirm the president is in very good shape, as you see on a near daily basis.” She noted that Trump did not undergo general anesthesia, typically used for procedures like colonoscopies, but said a full assessment was conducted to ensure he’s on track to meet his goals.

Known for his love of golf and his avoidance of alcohol and tobacco, Trump also has a well-known fondness for fast food and well-done steaks. However, he appears noticeably slimmer than during his first term.

Trump’s doctors — both personal and official — have made bold health claims in the past. In 2015, his physician Harold Bornstein wrote a letter asserting Trump would be “the healthiest individual ever elected to the presidency,” a claim Bornstein later admitted Trump dictated himself.

In 2018, then-White House doctor Ronny Jackson stated that Trump could “live to be 200 years old” with a better diet, despite labeling him in “excellent health” and showing no signs of cognitive impairment. A later exam in 2019 revealed Trump, at 6-foot-3, weighed 243 pounds, making him technically obese, and noted he was on medication for high cholesterol.

In 2020, Trump famously told Fox News he aced a cognitive test by recalling the phrase “person, woman, man, camera, TV.”

Age became a dominant issue during the 2024 presidential election, as both Trump and Biden were the oldest major-party candidates in US history. Biden eventually withdrew from the race following a stumbling debate performance in June that sparked widespread concern about his mental acuity.

Since his return to office, Trump has continued to contrast his energy with Biden’s, while the White House has accused the previous administration of hiding what it claims was Biden’s cognitive decline. — AFP