WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump underwent another medical examination on Tuesday, bringing his health back into the spotlight amid ongoing concerns about his age and stamina.
The 79-year-old leader spent over three hours at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center for what the White House termed as preventive medical and dental checkups. This marks Trump’s fourth publicly disclosed medical examination since resuming office for a second term, coinciding with his efforts to demonstrate vigor ahead of midterm elections that will gauge his influence with voters.
Following the examination, Trump announced on social media that he had completed his “6 month physical” and that “Everything checked out PERFECTLY.”
The White House has not yet issued a written report from Trump’s medical team.
Historically, administrations have selectively released presidential physical exam results, providing the public a look into the president’s health. However, these results are filtered through the White House and require presidential approval, leading to questions about what information is disclosed or withheld.
Trump, a Republican, will turn 80 next month and holds the record as the oldest person elected U.S. president. His predecessor, President Joe Biden, a Democrat, was 82 when he concluded his term, withdrawing from the 2024 presidential race due to concerns over his age.
A Washington Post/ABC News/Ipsos poll from April revealed that less than half of U.S. adults believe Trump possesses the mental acuity or physical health to effectively serve as president.
“I think concern for the president’s physical health is probably at an all-time high, and I think advanced physical age is the No. 1 concern,” commented Dr. Jeffrey Kuhlman, who served as a White House physician for more than a decade under Presidents Barack Obama, George W. Bush, and Bill Clinton.
For a president of Trump’s age, a comprehensive physical would likely include advanced heart testing, cancer screenings, and a cognitive assessment, along with standard measurements like height, weight, and blood pressure, Kuhlman noted.
While the details of the visit remain undisclosed, the White House expressed confidence in the examination’s results.
“President Trump is the sharpest and most accessible President in American history who is working nonstop to solve problems and deliver on his promises, and he remains in excellent health,” stated White House spokesperson Davis Ingle.
No law requiring presidents to disclose their medical records
In the weeks leading up to his medical visit, Trump frequently remarked that he feels as good as he did fifty years ago, despite joking about his love for fast food and limited exercise routine. He remains cautious about perceptions of his age, taking care when descending from Air Force One to avoid any missteps that might attract attention.
There is no legal obligation for presidents to disclose their health records, and the level of transparency has varied across administrations. Trump’s previous reports have faced criticism for lacking detail and presenting statistics that some medical experts have questioned.
At public events, Trump is often seen with makeup covering bruising on his hands, attributed by the White House to frequent handshaking and regular aspirin use. He has occasionally appeared drowsy during meetings and closed his eyes for extended periods, although he denies having fallen asleep.
Trump often champions his success in “acing” cognitive tests, while criticizing Biden, who faced scrutiny over his mental sharpness. Biden and his team have actively countered doubts about his capacity to serve.
Trump’s earlier physicals included the Montreal Cognitive Assessment, which screens for dementia and cognitive issues. His doctors reported perfect scores of 30 in both 2018 and 2025.
Nonetheless, critics have highlighted Trump’s rambling speeches and sometimes aggressive rhetoric as signs of possible cognitive decline.
Recently, a statement from over 30 neurologists, psychiatrists, and other medical experts—who have not personally examined him—declared Trump mentally unfit for office, citing “objectively observable signs of serious medical concern.”
“Any so-called medical professionals engaging in armchair diagnosis or false speculation for political purposes are clearly breaking the Hippocratic Oath they’ve sworn to,” Ingle remarked.
Like any patient, presidents have the right to choose what health information is released, according to Sara Rosenthal, a bioethicist at the University of Kentucky who focuses on presidential health. She notes that transparency issues have grown as older presidents like Trump and Biden are elected.
“I think we can expect very little disclosure about the true health status of any president unless they’re in perfect health,” Rosenthal stated. She has proposed an independent medical body to review and report on the health of the president and those next in line.
‘Nothing should be hidden’
Trump’s first medical report in his second term came out last April. In July, he was diagnosed with chronic venous insufficiency, a condition common in older people that causes blood to accumulate in veins. Photos have shown him with swollen feet, ankles, and calves, which the White House described as “mild swelling” from the condition.
After his last disclosed exam, a routine follow-up in October, Trump’s physician released a summary stating the president was in “exceptional health,” though few specifics were shared.
The frequency of Trump’s medical evaluations is not unusual for someone his age, according to S. Jay Olshansky from the University of Illinois-Chicago, who studies the health of past presidents. This approach aims to detect issues early when they are more treatable, he explained.
Olshansky believes the public deserves more than White House medical summaries that “may be subject to editorial discretion.” He advocates for full, unredacted medical records to be made public, asserting: “Nothing should be hidden.”
— Collin Binkley
