President Trump Friday headed to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center for what he described as a “semiannual physical” examination amid ongoing questions about his health.
Trump took a short helicopter ride from the White House to Walter Reed in suburban Bethesda, Maryland, where he said he was getting a fresh checkup just six months after his most recent annual exam in April.
“I’m meeting with the troops, and I’m also going to do a, sort of, semiannual physical, which I do,” Trump told reporters. “I think I’m in great shape, but I’ll let you know.”
The visit comes as Trump prepares to travel to the Middle East to celebrate the ceasefire deal in Gaza, suggesting the hospital trip is not a sign of any immediate health crisis.
AP Photo/Alex Brandon
President Donald Trump boards Marine One on the South Lawn of the White House on Friday as he heads to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
Since the White House has an extensive on-site medical unit, some medical experts speculated that Trump might be undergoing tests that can only be done in a hospital, although they cautioned that there could be other explanations for the Walter Reed exam.
The White House in July revealed that Trump had recently undergone an examination after noticing “mild swelling” in his ankles or lower legs. Tests showed that Trump has chronic venous insufficiency, a fairly common condition tied to aging that occurs when valves inside the veins that normally help move blood against gravity gradually lose the ability to work properly.
Trump’s symptoms could also be a sign of more serious heart problems, which would not be unusual for a person of Trump’s age and physical condition, doctors said.
He also suffers from bruising on his hands, which press secretary Karoline Leavitt attributed to frequent hand shaking.
Trump’s last annual physical exam in April found that he was “fully fit” to serve as commander in chief.
A three-page summary of the exam done by his doctor, Navy Capt. Sean Barbabella, said Trump had lost 20 pounds since June 2020. The doctor said Trump, an avid golfer, has an “active lifestyle” that “continues to contribute significantly” to his well-being.
At the April physical, Trump also passed a short screening test to assess various brain functions.
Trump, 79, is the second-oldest president in history, trailing only former President Joe Biden.
