Dr. Jonathan Reiner, the former physician to Vice President Dick Cheney, has demanded the White House provide public answers about President Donald Trump's health, saying Americans have been "kept in the dark too long."
Claims and Context
Trump, 80, has faced claims he "poos himself so much you can smell him around the corner." A clip from Lyndsey Graham's funeral, allegedly showing Trump soiling himself while a Secret Service member grimaced, went viral.
Reiner said: "In a representative democracy, the people must have confidence in the health of their leader, and in the leader’s capacity to guide the nation. We have been kept in the dark too long."
Medical Discrepancies
Trump has long been dogged by speculation about his health after numerous black and blue marks were spotted on the back of his hands. His team insists the discoloration is due to frequent handshaking and aspirin use. However, Reiner has flagged issues with the White House's claims.
He said: "Trauma from handshaking has never seemed plausible, and it doesn’t explain why the president’s left hand is often similarly discoloured. Also, why would the president take a dose of aspirin four times as high as the dose typically recommended by doctors?"
After reports of Trump's swollen ankles surfaced last year, his physician Dr. Sean Barbabella announced the president had been diagnosed with chronic venous insufficiency, a common condition in those over 70. Barbabella stated there was no evidence of more serious conditions such as deep vein thrombosis or arterial disease, and added Trump takes 325 milligrams of aspirin a day for "cardiac prevention."
Reiner stressed that chronic venous insufficiency "usually develops gradually over a long period." He added: "But during Mr. Trump’s comprehensive physical examination just a few months earlier, Dr. Barbabella documented no swelling in the president’s legs. If that’s true, his swelling would be by definition acute, not chronic. Acute leg swelling is a potentially much more consequential finding that can be caused by issues such as heart and kidney disease. What’s the reason for this discrepancy?"
White House Response
Speaking to The Independent, White House spokesman Davis Ingle hit back at Reiner: "If it quacks like a duck, it may actually just be a Democrat hack doctor." He added: "President Trump is the sharpest, most accessible, and energetic president in American history and any so-called medical professionals engaging in armchair diagnosis or false speculation for political purposes are clearly breaking the Hippocratic Oath they’ve sworn to."
Over the last couple months, Trump has been accused of falling asleep at numerous events, from the UFC fight night hosted on the lawn of the White House to the NBA finals in Madison Square Gardens.
Reiner added: "Although the president is a renowned night owl, his sleepiness seems relatively new. There are several possible causes for the president’s symptoms, some of which could have serious complications if left untreated. Has the president’s medical team identified the source of this issue? And how are they addressing it?"
