Dr Jonathan Reiner, the distinguished cardiologist who once oversaw former Vice President Dick Cheney's medical care, has issued a stark call for Congress to investigate President Donald Trump's mental fitness for office. The veteran heart specialist, a prominent figure in both medical and public circles, made his appeal following a series of public remarks and correspondence from the president that he describes as raising "serious concern".
A Letter That Sparked Alarm
Dr Reiner's intervention came shortly after President Trump released a statement to European leaders outlining his personal views on America's foreign policy objectives. In a fresh letter addressed to Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre, Trump linked his failure to secure the Nobel Peace Prize to his political ambitions regarding Greenland.
He wrote: "Considering your Country decided not to give me the Nobel Peace Prize for having stopped 8 Wars PLUS, I no longer feel an obligation to think purely of Peace, although it will always be predominant, but can now think about what is good and proper for the United States of America."
Trump continued by arguing that annexation would be crucial for worldwide security, stating: "I have done more for NATO than any other person since its founding, and now, NATO should do something for the United States. The World is not secure unless we have Complete and Total Control of Greenland."
Reiner's Response and Call for Action
Taking to social media platform X, Dr Reiner responded to this correspondence by suggesting it represented a significant red flag. "This letter, and the fact that the president directed that it be distributed to other European countries, should trigger a bipartisan congressional inquiry into presidential fitness," he wrote.
Dr Reiner added further context to his concerns: "Tonight the Pres endorsed a primary challenger to Sen Bill Cassidy. So it seems endorsing RFK Jr for HHS Sec wasn't enough to win the President's support. Dr. Cassidy's legacy will be more Hep B infections, more measles deaths, and a decimated CDC, FDA, and NIH. Self before country."
Pattern of Concerning Behaviour
The cardiologist's worries about Trump's health and capacity to govern are not entirely new. Earlier this year, he responded to Trump's remarks about his own wellbeing, when the president revealed to the Wall Street Journal that he routinely takes a higher dose of aspirin to thin his blood.
Speaking to CNN at the time, Dr Reiner explained: "That actually makes no sense. First of all, when we use any kind of anticoagulant, medications to prevent clotting, those don't thin the blood. It's not like changing something from gumbo to chicken soup. It doesn't make it thinner. It makes you less likely to clot."
Contrasting Medical Assessments
Throughout his political career, President Trump has consistently maintained that he is in excellent health. This claim has been supported by his personal physician, Navy Capt Sean Barbabella, who has confirmed that regular medical scans "reveal no abnormalities".
However, Dr Reiner's call for a congressional inquiry suggests that questions about presidential fitness extend beyond physical health to encompass mental capacity and judgement. The cardiologist's unique perspective, having cared for one of America's most powerful political figures during a health crisis, lends particular weight to his concerns about the current administration.
The debate now centres on whether Congress will heed this medical professional's call for a formal investigation into the president's fitness to execute the duties of office, particularly in light of recent statements that have raised eyebrows among both medical experts and political observers.
