Trump to undergo medical check-up but won’t release health records

By Olaoluwa Vincent Ajayi

Donald Trump is set to undergo a routine medical examination on Friday at the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Washington DC — though there’s no guarantee the public will learn much from it.

At 78, Trump was the oldest president in U.S. history at the time of his swearing-in, yet he continues to offer little transparency about his health. Despite promising last August that he would “very gladly” release his medical records, no such disclosure has been made.

In a post on his social media platform ahead of the check-up, Trump wrote: “I have never felt better, but nevertheless, these things must be done!” His upbeat tone follows a longstanding pattern of optimistic — and often vague — assessments of his health.

Observers note that previous medical reports from Trump’s camp have tended to be flattering but lacking in detail. In November 2023, a brief letter from his doctor claimed Trump was in “excellent” health, with “exceptional” cognitive exam results — but failed to provide basic information such as weight, blood pressure, cholesterol levels, or the outcomes of any tests.

This latest check-up marks the first formal opportunity to assess Trump’s condition since the assassination attempt in Butler, Pennsylvania last July. At that time, Dr. Ronny Jackson, Trump’s former White House physician and loyal supporter, described a gunshot wound to Trump’s right ear. Jackson once joked that Trump could live to 200 if he improved his diet.

Donald Trump was defiant after a failed assassination attempt in July. Pic: AP

Medical transparency has become a flashpoint in American politics. While President Biden’s health reports have typically included comprehensive data — from cholesterol readings to neurological assessments — Trump’s records have often been partial or released selectively. During his presidency, he was reported to be technically obese and taking medication for high cholesterol, and he once made headlines for taking anti-baldness pills.

Trump contracted COVID-19 in 2020. Pic: Reuters

In contrast, Trump has repeatedly questioned the physical and mental fitness of his predecessor, Joe Biden, who is three years older. Yet Trump himself has faced criticism for keeping the public in the dark about his own condition — particularly during his bout with COVID-19 in 2020, which turned out to be more serious than initially acknowledged.

Back in 2015, before his first presidential run, Trump’s personal physician famously declared him “the healthiest individual ever elected to the presidency.” That same doctor later admitted Trump had dictated the statement himself.

Given his global profile, this latest check-up is likely to raise fresh questions about how much — if anything — voters will be told about Trump’s true state of health.