A prominent physician has called on the White House to provide clarity following President Donald Trump’s weeklong absence from public events after his latest medical checkup. Dr. Jonathan Reiner, a professor of medicine at George Washington University and former cardiologist to Dick Cheney, expressed concerns on social media, urging the release of the president’s physician to answer press questions.
Trump, who turns 80 next month, visited Walter Reed National Military Medical Center on 26 May for his third physical in just over a year. After a cabinet meeting the following day, he disappeared from public view, resurfacing only a week later for a previously closed-press executive order signing. The White House insists there is no cause for alarm, and Trump boasted online that his results “checked out PERFECTLY.” His physician, Sean Barbabella, reported that the president “remains in excellent health.”
However, medical experts have pointed to gaps in the report. A group of doctors told The Wall Street Journal that key details from tests such as a coronary CT angiography and carotid ultrasound were missing. Dr. William Shutze, a Texas vascular surgeon, noted that the report lacked specifics on plaque buildup. Additionally, The Washington Post reported that finasteride, a hair loss drug Trump has taken for years, was omitted from the latest report, raising questions about what else might be undisclosed.
The report also attributed bruising on Trump’s hands to “frequent handshaking” and noted improvement in lower leg swelling. Concerns about the president’s drowsiness during meetings have persisted for months. Reiner previously told CNN that Trump suffers from “severe daytime somnolence,” falling asleep in the Oval Office and cabinet meetings. The White House dismissed such claims, with spokesperson Davis Ingle stating that Trump is “the sharpest, most accessible, and energetic president in American history.”
Polls indicate public unease: a May Ipsos survey found that 55% of respondents believe Trump lacks the physical health to serve, and 59% question his mental acuity. Critics argue that the incomplete medical report and lack of transparency only fuel these doubts.
