Former President Donald Trump underwent his annual physical at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center on Friday. This marks his first exam of his second term as president.
“I have never felt better, but nevertheless, these things must be done!” Trump posted on Truth Social earlier in the week. At 78, Trump is the oldest president to be sworn into office.
The public has not received a detailed look into Trump’s health since 2018, and during the 2024 presidential campaign, he did not provide any specifics about his health despite multiple promises to do so.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt informed reporters on Friday that the president’s physician would provide an update on the report in the interest of transparency. She added that there would be “as many results as possible,” and that these results would be shared “as soon as we possibly can.”
The summary of physicals provided typically includes a narrative about the patient’s physical fitness that they allow to be shared. However, it has never been a full and transparent release of medical records.
In Trump’s last official presidential checkup, which took place in January 2018, he was described as being in “excellent” cardiovascular shape for his age. This evaluation was conducted by then-White House physician Dr. Ronny Jackson after a nearly four-hour physical exam at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center.
The medical issues noted at that time included high cholesterol, rosacea (a benign skin condition), and being categorized as “overweight,” based on body mass index (BMI) measurements.
Trump’s LDL cholesterol level was reported at 143 and his total cholesterol level at 223, both of which are above the recommended total of 200. In particular, his LDL cholesterol was significantly higher than the recommended level of 100.
His BMI was calculated at 29.9, just shy of the obesity classification that begins at a score of 30.
The 2018 report indicated that Trump was prescribed rosuvastatin, a cholesterol-lowering drug, with an increased dosage due to his elevated cholesterol levels. Additionally, Trump was taking finasteride for male-pattern hair loss, a medication that can also be used for prostate issues at higher doses.
Moreover, Trump takes aspirin daily to prevent heart disease, a multivitamin, and applies a cream called ivermectin, as needed, to treat his skin condition rosacea.
At Trump’s request, his physician conducted a brief screening test known as the Montreal Cognitive Assessment, which Trump reportedly passed with a perfect score of 30/30.
In October 2020, Trump was hospitalized after contracting COVID-19. At the time, then White House chief of staff Mark Meadows stated that Trump exhibited a fever and experienced a rapid drop in his blood oxygen levels.
Sources familiar with the situation revealed that Trump had trouble breathing and received supplemental oxygen while hospitalized. He was treated with an experimental course of monoclonal antibodies and steroids, returning to the White House after three days.
Since his first term, the most recent update on Trump’s health consisted of a three-paragraph letter from his personal physician, Bruce Aronwald of Morristown Medical Group. In this letter, Aronwald reported that Trump’s “overall health is excellent.”
He stated that Trump’s physical exams were within the normal range and that his cognitive exams were exceptional. Furthermore, Aronwald noted that the results from Trump’s most recent extensive laboratory analysis were within normal limits and were even more favorable than previous tests, likely due to weight reduction.
Moreover, the letter indicated that Trump’s cardiovascular studies were all normal and that cancer screening tests returned negative results. Aronwald attributed Trump’s weight loss to an “improved diet and continued daily physical activity.”
On July 13, gunfire erupted at a Trump campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, leading to the death of Trump supporter Corey Comperatore and injuries to Trump and six others. Investigators noted that Trump was treated for a “Gunshot Wound to the Right Ear” at Butler Memorial Hospital.
Former White House physician and current GOP Texas Rep. Ronny Jackson reviewed Trump’s medical records from the hospital and confirmed that Trump underwent a precautionary CT scan while in Butler. However, the Trump campaign did not release the records that Jackson claimed to have reviewed.
Jackson later shared another letter detailing Trump’s ear injury and its healing process, stating that Trump is doing “well” and recovering “as expected.”
This development continues to draw public interest regarding Trump’s health as he navigates his second term.
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