Questions surrounding the stamina of 79-year-old President Donald Trump have intensified following a new analysis that reveals a significant reduction in his public schedule and a later start to his working day during his second term.
Sharp Decline in Official Engagements
According to an investigation by The New York Times, which examined official schedules logged in a Roll Call database, President Trump's public appearances have plummeted by 39 percent compared to his first term.
The data shows a stark contrast: between January 20 and November 25 in 2017, Mr Trump held 1,688 official events. For the identical period this year, that number fell to just 1,029 engagements.
Later Starts and a More Sedentary Routine
The analysis also uncovered a notable shift in the president's daily timetable. His first scheduled events began at 10:31 a.m. on average in 2017. Now, in his second term, they are more likely to commence in the afternoons, with an average start time of 12:08 p.m.
A source familiar with his plans told the Times that the president now regularly enters the Oval Office after 11 a.m., having complained during his first term that his mornings were overscheduled. A former White House physician, Dr. Jeffrey Kuhlman, observed that Mr Trump is often "sedentary" while in the office.
White House Pushback and Health Speculation
The report, which framed its findings around the "realities of aging in office," prompted a furious response from the president on his Truth Social platform. "I have never worked so hard in my life," Mr Trump lashed out, dismissing the article as a "hit piece" from the "Radical Left Lunatics."
He vehemently defended his energy levels, citing a "perfect score" on a recent cognitive test and a "perfect physical exam." White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt echoed this, stating the president is in "impressive physical and mental shape" and contrasting his administration's transparency with what she described as the Biden team's covering up of cognitive decline.
Despite these assurances, speculation about his health persists. This was fuelled by observations of bruising on his hand and checks for "mild swelling" in his legs during the summer. Furthermore, at a November event promoting weight loss drugs, the president was seen seated for 20 minutes and appeared to briefly doze off.
Paradoxically, the report noted that Mr Trump has undertaken more international travel this year, with eight trips abroad compared to four during the same period in 2017.
