Doctors have raised concerns over the White House’s recent medical report on President Donald Trump, stating that it omits crucial information about his cardiac health. The report, released after Trump’s annual physical at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, declared him in “excellent health” but lacked specific test results typically used to assess heart function.
Among the missing details are a calcium score, a description of arterial plaque, and a CAD-RADS score to evaluate artery narrowing. Dr. William Shutze, a Texas vascular surgeon, told the Wall Street Journal that a report to another physician would include more detail on the carotid ultrasound, such as the amount of plaque present. The report also omitted the ejection fraction measurement from Trump’s echocardiogram, a metric included in his 2018 health report.
Trump’s physician, Navy Capt. Sean Barbabella, noted that an AI-enhanced electrocardiogram estimated the 79-year-old president’s cardiac age as 65. Tests including a coronary CT angiography, echocardiogram, and carotid ultrasound were performed, but the White House did not release the full results. Doctors said the report’s statement of “no arterial obstruction or structural abnormalities” could simply indicate the absence of a blockage, lacking specificity.
White House communications director Steven Cheung defended the report, saying Trump has released more health information than any previous president. He criticised doctors for speculating about a patient not under their care. The White House added that any omitted results should be seen as confirmation of no clinically meaningful abnormalities. There is no legal requirement for presidents to disclose health data, but scrutiny has increased as the US elects older leaders; Trump is the second-oldest president, turning 80 this month.
