Trump claimed everything was "very normal" as he left the hospital and returned to the White House after his medical examination on Tuesday.
But this is unlikely to quell concerns about Trump’s health. Even Trump himself has begun to tacitly acknowledge his limited time on Earth—occasionally reflecting on how little time he has left and openly pondering whether he will make it to heaven.
"I don’t know how long I’ve got," Trump said to himself during an event in the East Room earlier this year. "There are a lot of people watching me."
This visit to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center marks Trump’s third trip to the facility for checkups since becoming the oldest president in U.S. history last year. The White House stated that the examination would include “routine annual dental and medical evaluations,” despite the fact that he has already visited dentists twice this year in Florida.
Trump’s team enthusiastically praised him as a leader with boundless energy and unparalleled sharpness, dismissing obvious signs of aging and moments when he dozed off during meetings.
Yet even optimistic assessments from doctors following frequent checkups have failed to dispel public skepticism about Trump’s health. The president has no legal obligation to disclose any health information, so all disclosures are voluntary. Prior to Trump, several past presidents were later found to have concealed medical issues during their tenure.
Trump’s political image is built on strength and vitality, and he is well known for refusing to admit any physical shortcomings. He almost daily compares himself to a predecessor he calls “Sleepy Joe.” His aides quickly point out how many late nights he works.
"I’m not a senior citizen. I’m much younger than you," Trump said this month at a retirement community in Florida. "I’m far younger than all of you."
Although Trump has been more visible and influential than Biden during his presidency, he has traveled significantly less than during his first term and has repeatedly fallen asleep during televised events.
Concerns about Trump’s mental and physical health predated his presidency. In 2015, his then-private physician wrote a letter during his first campaign stating: “If elected, I can say without reservation that Trump would be the healthiest presidential candidate in history.” The doctor who authored that statement, Harold Bornstein, later said the declaration was dictated directly by Trump.
The White House said the ankle swelling seen in Trump last summer was caused by chronic venous insufficiency—a common age-related condition. Trump tried wearing compression socks but found them uncomfortable.
White House officials stated that the bruises on Trump’s hands resulted from taking large amounts of aspirin—doses exceeding recommended levels—and frequently shaking hands; he attempted to cover them up with heavy makeup.
White House officials insisted that Trump’s closing of eyes during meetings was merely prolonged blinking.
In last year’s medical report, doctors praised Trump’s “positive lifestyle” and “frequent golf victories.” Yet Trump admitted he rarely exercises, joking during a new presidential fitness assessment that he “spends at most about a minute a day” exercising.
Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said this year on a podcast, “I don’t know how he’s still alive, but he is. He’s alive,” adding that Trump’s diet is extremely poor—consisting largely of McDonald’s, candy, and Diet Coke.
Original article: toutiao.com/article/1866293396444163/
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are solely those of the author.