Staff Reports
Donald Trump has taken his yearly physical examination on Friday, and while many eyes are glued to some potential morsels of health-related news, it’s worth noting that this is just another episode in the ongoing saga of transparency—or lack thereof—surrounding his health. At 78, Trump is, astonishingly, the oldest individual to be inaugurated as president in U.S. history. He cheerfully proclaimed on his social media platform that he has never felt better, suggesting a robust state of health that might allow him to sprint toward another run for the White House.
While it’s easy to poke fun at the irony of Trump—who has, at various points, questioned the mental acuity of his predecessor—keeping details about his own health status far more secretive than an episode of “Survivor,” one must recognize the absurdity of the whole situation. After all, it seems almost hypocritical for someone who was so critical of Joe Biden’s age and mental fitness to conceal his own health conditions behind a veil of ambiguity. It’s as if he’s teaching a masterclass in selective transparency, a practice that is frustratingly common in today’s political landscape.
There’s a solid chance that the results of this latest physical may come out glowing, as was the case in the past. Conducted at the prestigious Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, this examination represents the first public peek into Trump’s health since the headline-making assassination attempt in Butler, Pennsylvania, last July. While you’d think that Trump, in the name of transparency, would be eager to shed some light on any medical evaluations, his own actions suggest otherwise. Instead, a memo from his supportive former physician, Ronny Jackson, previously downplayed much of the situation while hinting at a traumatic episode involving a gunshot wound. That’s not exactly the health update the public was hoping for.
Donald Trump is undergoing his annual physical on Friday, potentially giving the public its first details in years about the health of a man who in January became the oldest in U.S. history to be sworn in as president. https://t.co/gJhBXZET2V
— The Washington Times (@WashTimes) April 11, 2025
Historically, Trump’s physicals have prompted more speculation than they have resolved. The last public statement about his health sprang forth in November 2023, a letter keenly timed to coincide with Biden’s 81st birthday. It was labeled as a definitive endorsement of Trump’s good health, albeit without meaningful specifics like weight, blood pressure, or cholesterol levels—the things any health-conscious American might actually care about. It highlighted only that Trump was in “excellent” health and had “reduced his weight,” while keeping everything else neatly under wraps.
Past events have shown that Trump tends to manage his health narrative as carefully as he manages his Twitter feed. One memorable instance, his brush with coronavirus in 2020, led to speculative whispers about his actual health status following his recovery. While his doctor painted a rosy picture, insiders noted troubling vital signs that contradicted the upbeat message. Continuing that theme, Trump’s attempts to clarify his mental fitness came off as comical; his listing of “Person. Woman. Man. Camera. TV” during an interview has cemented his quirky yet unsettling attempts to demonstrate cognitive prowess.
It’s clear that whether it’s through physical examinations or casual interviews, Trump maintains a curious relationship with the public when it comes to his health. For those keeping score, the latest examination stands as yet another opportunity for him to either dispel doubts surrounding his vitality or, more likely, stoke the flames of speculation. The waiting game begins, and it’s not just about his health; it’s about the ongoing quest for the truth that seems perpetually out of reach in Washington.
