US President Donald Trump has cancelled two planned appearances in the final days of his mid-term campaign, fuelling speculation about his cognitive and physical health. The president was scheduled to lead rallies in Kansas and Iowa over the weekend, ahead of voters going to the polls on Tuesday.
Mr Trump has been working overtime to boost Republican turnout amid backlash over inflation, soaring fuel prices and the Iran war. The elections on November 3 will determine whether the party retains its narrow control of the US Senate and House of Representatives.
Unusual move without explanation
The president made the unusual move of axing the weekend campaign stops without providing a reason this week, with his allies saying he would instead phone in to rallies across the country. It comes after he admitted that a series of back-to-back appearances had been challenging.
Addressing voters in Mississippi in an audibly hoarse voice on Monday, Mr Trump said: "God didn't make your vocal cords to do a rally every day." However, he later lashed out at a reporter who questioned his ability to meet the demands of the gruelling campaign schedule.
He said: "You've been following me for two weeks; I feel perfect. You are disgusting. Put yourself in shape, you look like hell." It marked just his latest outburst at a journalist in recent weeks, earlier calling The Independent's Andrew Feinberg a "sick person" and branding an NBC correspondent a "horrible little reporter".
Mounting health concerns
The president, whose party has fallen behind the Democrats by 8.2% according to RealClearPolling, has been at the centre of mounting health speculation since turning 80 in June. Rahm Emanuel, former chief of staff to Barack Obama, told the New York Times: "Somebody at 80-years-old just doesn't have the mental stamina for that office."
Recent reports also suggest Mr Trump has enforced a "three minute" protocol, requiring his principal physician, Dr Sean Barbarella, to remain within a three-minute radius of him at all times. Dr Barbarella, who has overseen the president's health assessments during his second term, has repeatedly said Mr Trump remains in "excellent" condition.
Physician insists he is fit
Amid concerns over his apparent memory lapses and visible bodily swelling and bruising, the physician insisted in a report this May that he "demonstrates strong cardiac, pulmonary, neurological and overall physical function".
Dr Barbarella added: "His demanding daily schedule, including multiple high-level meetings, public engagements and regular physical activity, continues to support his overall well-being. Cognitive and physical performance are excellent. He is fully fit to carry out all duties of the Commander-in-Chief and Head of State."
