Donald Trump is set to undergo a routine annual check-up at Walter Reed Medical Center on Friday, marking his second of the year.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt shared in a statement that Trump will visit the hospital for a planned meeting and remarks with the troops, while also noting that he will get a routine yearly check-up. Trump’s last check-up was his annual physical, just under six months ago on April 11th. A memo from the White House physician at the time noted the president to be exhibiting ‘excellent cognitive and physical health.’
Trump addressed concerns about his forthcoming health check-up, speaking with reporters in the Oval Office Thursday. ‘Physically, I feel very good. Mentally, I feel very good,’ Trump noted. ‘I think I’m in great shape. I’ll let you know,’ Trump continued, before adding ‘I’m actually a person who believes that if you’re president, you should do a cognitive exam.’ It was revealed earlier this year that the 79-year-old president is suffering from chronic venous insufficiency (CVI), a common condition in older people that increases the risk of blood clots. Trump’s hands have been photographed in the Oval Office, either with massive bruises or with makeup obviously covering them.
Photographs have also emerged of the president’s ankles that appeared to be swollen, something that is unsurprising given his CVI diagnosis. The condition often leads to poor blood flow and fluid buildup when the veins in the legs, particularly in the ankles, do not function properly. Dr. Jonathan Reiner, a cardiologist and CNN medical analyst wrote on X: ‘The White House announced that the president will go to Walter Reed on Fri for his ”yearly check up”. It’s a bit early, as he’s not due for his annual exam until April.’ Yet, Trump doesn’t appear to be concerned about his health or intent on slowing down his manic routines any time soon.
At a speech given to Navy sailors last week, Trump boasted that his former White House Doctor, Ronny Jackson, who was also on the White House medical team during the Bush and Obama years, frequently praised his health. ‘He was also the doctor for Barack Hussein Obama. Have you heard of him? He was a doctor for a man named Bush. And at a press conference, they asked him, ‘Who’s in the best shape, who’s the healthiest, who’s the strongest, who’s the best physical specimen of the three?’ He said, ‘That’s easy. President Donald Trump!’ ‘And I said, ‘I love this guy!”
Navy officers reacted by cheering on the president with applause and laughter as Trump continued praising Jackson. ‘I said, “love him!”‘ Trump added. ‘Ronny Jackson. He’s now a congressman, you know. So, he was an admiral, he was a chief doctor — he was the whole boss of doctors — and now he’s a very, very successful congressman from Texas. ‘Thank you, Ronny, and I appreciate those words. I’ll never forget them.’
While serving as Trump’s physician, Jackson faced criticism from the president’s liberal opponents for frequently praising Trump’s health. Back in 2018, Jackson famously claimed during a press conference that Trump ‘has excellent genes, and it’s just the way God made him.’ Jackson also added at the time, ‘I told the president that if he had a healthier diet over the last 20 years, he might live to be 200 years old.’
CNN Reporter Kaitlan Collins, a constant critic of the administration, even appeared to praise Trump’s stamina this week when she noted that White House staff frequently complain about not getting enough sleep on international trips with the Commander in Chief.
‘He doesn’t sleep on these trips and like, you’re going to Asia or something, and that’s kind of the only time you’re going to sleep before you go on this trip, but Trump is just always up and talking,’ she said during an appearance on Jason Tartick’s Trading Secrets podcast on Monday. Trump is planning additional international travel next week to celebrate the peace deal between Israel and Hamas.
