Donald Trump's former physician, Harold Bornstein, has claimed that the 2015 letter declaring the then-candidate in 'astonishingly excellent' health was dictated by Mr Trump himself. In an interview with CNN, Dr Bornstein said the letter, which suggested Mr Trump would be the 'healthiest individual ever elected to the presidency', was not his professional assessment.
Dr Bornstein told CNN: 'Mr Trump dictated that whole letter. I would tell him what he couldn't put in there.' The letter, released ahead of the 2016 election, described Mr Trump's physical strength as 'extraordinary' and noted he had lost 15 pounds over a year.
Dr Bornstein also said that in February 2017, Mr Trump's bodyguard carried out a 'raid' on his offices, removing all of Mr Trump's medical records. The physician told NBC News the incident made him feel 'raped, frightened and sad'. The New York-based doctor said three men, including the bodyguard, spent 25-30 minutes seizing the original and only copy of Mr Trump's charts.
The White House has not commented on the allegations about the letter. However, press secretary Sarah Sanders said the removal of records was not a raid but 'standard procedure' for the White House Medical Unit to take possession of the president's medical records. The incident occurred shortly after Dr Bornstein told The New York Times he had prescribed Mr Trump Propecia, an anti-baldness drug.
In January 2018, Mr Trump underwent a three-hour examination amid speculation over his mental health. White House doctor Ronny Jackson said at the time: 'I have no concerns about his cognitive ability or neurological functions.'
