Trump Breaks Silence: Annual Physical Exam Revealed After Years of Medical Secrecy

Donald Trump underwent his annual physical examination on Friday at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, marking a key event for a president who, at 78, holds the record as the oldest to take office in U.S. history. Ahead of the check-up, he confidently proclaimed on social media, “I have never felt better, but nevertheless, these things must be done!”

Details about the exam itself remain limited; Trump spent over five hours at the facility but did not address reporters following his evaluation. After the examination, he departed for Florida aboard Air Force One.

Throughout his presidency, Trump has often shrouded his health in secrecy, despite frequently questioning the mental and physical fitness of his predecessor, Joe Biden. This latest examination is anticipated to yield a similarly flattering report, adhering to his usual lack of transparency about health matters.

Press secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed to reporters before Trump completed his physical that it was a “routine and long-scheduled” check-up. She assured the public that a report from the White House physician would be released as promptly as possible and suggested it would be comprehensive.

Leavitt stated, “I can confirm the president is in very good shape,” noting that the examination did not require general anesthesia. This medical report will serve as the first public insight into Trump’s health since an assassination attempt in July.

Former White House physician Ronny Jackson, an ardent Trump supporter, previously provided minimal insight regarding Trump’s health, opting for a memo that described a gunshot wound rather than releasing detailed medical records. In a CBS interview last August, Trump expressed an interest in releasing his medical records but has yet to follow through.

Although Trump is younger than Biden, he became the oldest president upon his second inauguration in January. The privacy rights of presidents protect their medical records, enabling them to decide which health details are shared with the public. Historically, annual physicals have given insight into a commander-in-chief’s well-being, though significant medical issues have often been concealed.

Trump has a history of providing scant details about his health. The last comprehensive information, released in November, indicated he was in “excellent” health but lacked critical statistics like weight or blood pressure. During his previous treatment at Walter Reed for COVID-19, officials offered a positive outlook, but later revelations indicated a more severe condition than publicly acknowledged.

His past comments about health drew considerable attention, particularly during a July 2020 interview, where he cited a cognitive test involving the phrase “Person. Woman. Man. Camera. TV” as proof of his mental fitness.