(AFP) – Donald Trump on Friday had his second medical checkup this year, a day after the oldest elected president in US history insisted that he was in “great shape.” The 79-year-old Trump saw physicians at Walter Reed military hospital on the outskirts of the capital Washington. He gave reporters the thumbs-up on his return to the White House when they asked how the checkup had gone, but did not comment.
The White House is expected to release details of his checkup later. It comes three months after the White House announced Trump was diagnosed with a vein condition following speculation about frequent bruising on his hand and his swollen legs. The White House had said earlier this week that Friday’s checkup would be an “annual” one — despite the fact that Trump had already undergone one of those in April.
Trump told reporters in the Oval Office on Thursday that he was “going to do a sort of semi-annual physical.” “I’m in great shape, but I’ll let you know. But no, I have no difficulty thus far… Physically, I feel very good. Mentally, I feel very good.” Republican Trump then embarked on one of his trademark tirades comparing his health with that of former presidents, particularly his Democratic predecessor Joe Biden.
Trump said that during his last checkup “I also did a cognitive exam which is always very risky, because if I didn’t do well, you’d be the first to be blaring it, and I had a perfect score.” Trump then added: “Did Obama do it? No. Did Bush do it? No. Did Biden do it? I definitely did. Biden wouldn’t have gotten the first three questions right.”
– Bruised hand –
But Trump has repeatedly been accused of a lack of openness about his health despite huge interest in the well-being of America’s commander-in-chief. In September, he dismissed social media rumors swirling about his health — including false posts that he had died. In July, the White House said Trump was diagnosed with a chronic but benign vein condition — chronic venous insufficiency — following speculation about his bruised hand and swollen legs.
The hand issue, it said, was linked to the aspirin he takes as part of a “standard” cardiovascular health program. Trump is regularly seen at public events with heavy make-up on the back of his right hand which he uses to conceal the bruising. At his last checkup, the White House said Trump was in good health, saying he had a “normal cardiac structure and function, no signs of heart failure, renal impairment or systemic illness.”
– Danny KEMP
© 2024 AFP
