Is Trump not fit for office? President to undergo annual physical examination this week

US President Donald Trump will undergo his annual physical exam on Friday at Walter Reed Medical Center, he announced Monday. Sitting presidents normally attend the hospital in Maryland for their annual physical, with the results later released by the White House physician.

“I am pleased to report that my long scheduled Annual Physical Examination will be done at Walter Reed Army Medical Center on Friday of this week,” Trump posted on Truth Social. “I have never felt better, but nevertheless, these things must be done!”

Trump to undergo physical examination

Donald Trump's post comes a little over a month after the White House announced that the president, 78, would undergo a physical. "President Donald J. Trump will complete his routine annual physical exam next month at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center (WRNMMC)," a statement from Dr. Sean Barbabella, Physician to the President, read.

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Trump is set to turn 79 in June. He will be 82 at the end of his term, which would make him the oldest individual to hold the office by just a few months over former President Biden when he left office in January.

Trump has released limited information about his physical health since he left office in 2020. His campaign released a letter from his personal physician in November 2023 that described the former president as having “excellent health,” but provided few specifics about his most recent exam.

Trump and his campaign disclosed minimal details about his recovery or any lasting health issues following the July 2024 assassination attempt in which a bullet grazed him. At the time, Rep. Ronny Jackson (R-Texas), a former White House physician, said he examined the wound on Trump’s ear. The presidential campaign of former Vice President Kamala Harris pressed Trump to release his medical records, particularly after Biden’s age had become a flashpoint in the 2024 campaign.

Trump claims his mental prowess better than Biden

Trump has often claimed that his physical and mental prowess was better than Joe Biden during the 2024 election campaign. The purpose of the physical examination is to confirm that the president is in good health and capable of fulfilling the responsibilities of the office, helping to uphold public trust. While the exam is comprehensive, not all findings are made public.

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It may involve blood tests, screenings for conditions such as cancer and diabetes, and assessments of vital signs like blood pressure and heart rate.

Donald Trump may be subject to cognitive evaluations such as the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), a tool commonly used to detect signs of cognitive decline or impairment.

The MoCA includes tasks like repeating five words immediately and again after a short delay, identifying various animals, and drawing clock hands to show a specific time.

According to Texas Representative Ronny Jackson, who served as Trump’s physician during his presidency, Trump personally requested the MoCA as part of a physical exam in 2018 during his first term.

The most recent physical exam results from Trump’s time in office were released in June 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic. In December 2015, Dr. Harold Bornstein, Trump's personal physician, wrote a letter saying that he would be the "healthiest individual ever elected to the presidency." Bornstein told CNN in 2018 that the doctor's note he penned had been dictated to him by Trump.

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Trump's health in spotlight

The announcement of Trump's appointment comes after mysterious bruises on Trump's hand have gained the spotlight, according to the Irish Star. The bruises, which were first spotted on his hands during his meeting with Emmanuel Macron in late February. The bruises were yellow and purple and appeared on the back of his right hand.

A White House official explained that the bruise had developed because Trump had shaken hands with several people on the campaign trail. "President Trump is a man of the people. His commitment is unwavering, and he proves that every single day," White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said. "President Trump has bruises on his hand because he’s constantly working and shaking hands all day every day," she added.

His administration has also not disclosed whether Trump has been diagnosed with any diseases or received any mental health care after the assassination attempt. There have been limited snapshots of Trump’s health over the last year.