Trump reveals story about GOP lawmaker Neal Dunn’s health

President Trump and Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) revealed Monday that Rep. Neal Dunn (R-Fla.) received a terminal diagnosis for a heart problem, prompting concerns about the House GOP’s super-slim majority and leading Trump to connect the congressman to care at the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center.

Trump talked about Dunn’s health during a press conference at the Kennedy Center while introducing Johnson, noting the Speaker’s tough job in managing such a small majority. Republicans can currently afford to lose no more than one member on any party-line vote, assuming all members are present and voting.

“We had it up to four,” Trump said of the GOP’s margin, “and then we had a death. And the death is very bad when you have a majority of two or three.”

“We had one man who was very ill, it looked like he wasn’t going to make it. I don’t know. I won’t mention his name,” Trump said, turning to Johnson: “Do you want to mention it? He’ll be proud. Go ahead, tell them the story.”

Johnson said that Dunn had some “real health challenges,” with a “pretty grim diagnosis.” After prodding from Trump, Johnson said, “I think it was a terminal diagnosis.”

“He would dead by June,” Trump said.

“OK, that’s wasn’t public,” Johnson demurred, as Trump added: “It was a heart problem.”

Johnson said that the diagnosis prompted Dunn, who had already announced he would not seek reelection, to consider retiring back to Florida. A midsession resignation, though, would further strain the slim House GOP majority, posing difficulties for Republicans in Washington.

Johnson said Trump suggested getting his own White House doctors involved to help Dunn, and that “within hours” Dunn was in emergency surgery at Walter Reed. Trump later said that “they gave him more stents, and more everything that you could have.” 

“The man has a new lease on life. He acts like he’s 30 years younger,” Johnson said.

Trump recalled Johnson calling him with the news about Dunn’s diagnosis.

“I said, ‘That’s bad.’ Number one, it was bad because I liked him. Number two, it was bad because I needed his vote,” Trump said. 

Trump said Dunn said to the Speaker: “Mike, I’m going to last this out for the president and you, and however long I live — I mean, it looks like June is the time, but however long I live, I’m going to be voting for you.”

Trump added, “I mean, how many people are going to say that?”

“I did it for him first and for the vote second. But it was a close second, actually,” Trump added.

Dunn’s office did not immediately respond to a request for comment. His office previously told The Hill that Dunn “will remain in Congress to represent his constituents through the end of this term.”

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