President Donald Trump underwent his third scheduled medical checkup in 13 months this week, with the White House physician declaring him in "excellent health" and "fully fit to carry out all duties of the Commander-in-Chief."
Dr. Sean Barbabella, Trump's physician, issued the assessment Friday following a Tuesday visit to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center for a planned medical and dental examination. The checkup included advanced cardiac and abdominal imaging that revealed no abnormalities, according to Barbabella's statement.
Trump, who turns 80 next month, is the oldest person to take office as president. He has made his health a recurring talking point, posting on Truth Social after Tuesday's visit that everything "checked out PERFECTLY." He has also claimed to regularly ace cognitive exams.
The visits to Walter Reed have become a regular fixture. Trump underwent examinations there in April and October last year, followed by dental appointments in Florida in January and May. The frequency of his medical visits stands in contrast to how the White House initially characterized them. When Trump visited Walter Reed in October, the administration described it as a "routine yearly check up" despite it being his second visit in six months.
Trump's health has drawn public scrutiny at times. Observers have noted moments of apparent drowsiness, and a noticeably bruised right hand prompted explanation from the White House, which attributed the bruising to his frequent handshaking and noted that he takes aspirin as a blood thinner, sometimes exceeding dosages his doctors recommend.
Last year, the White House disclosed that Trump has chronic venous insufficiency, a non-life-threatening circulatory condition that caused swelling in his legs. During his October visit, Trump initially told reporters he had undergone an MRI, but Barbabella later clarified the imaging was a CT scan of his heart and abdomen designed to rule out cardiovascular issues.
Barbabella said doctors asked Trump whether he would consent to advanced imaging to use his time at the hospital efficiently. The results showed no problems.
In his latest statement, Barbabella described Trump as exhibiting "robust cardiac, pulmonary, neurological and general physical function."
Author Sarah Mitchell: "The medical checkups are becoming routine theater, but what matters is whether voters believe what they're hearing about a president approaching 80 who wants another four-year term."
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