Trump’s checkup leaves unanswered questions 

Trump’s checkup leaves unanswered questions 

Questions linger about the state of President Trump’s health after his physician declared he “remains in excellent health, demonstrating strong cardiac, pulmonary, neurological, and overall physical function.”  

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Trump has faced scrutiny over his health and the White House’s transparency around his checkups. The latest memo, written by Dr. Sean P. Barbabella, was released at nearly 11 p.m. on a Friday night, three days after Trump’s physical was completed. 

It gives an upbeat assessment of the health of the oldest person to be inaugurated president, but doesn’t put to rest questions about bruising on Trump’s hands, apparent sleepiness during public events or swelling in his lower legs. 

Barbabella wrote the bruising was consistent with “minor soft tissue irritation,” attributing it to “frequent handshaking” and the “benign effect of aspirin therapy.” 

“When a President’s physicians start citing ‘AI cardiac age’ metrics and explaining bilateral bruising from ‘frequent handshaking,’ the line between medical documentation and political messaging disappears,” Vin Gupta, a pulmonologist and public health expert, wrote on the social platform X.  

Trump’s medical history has been marked with secrecy, and critics have long accused him of trying to hide the true details of his health behind bluster. Trump’s campaign and administration have projected him as a picture of strength and vitality. 

Clinicians also questioned why Barbabella and the White House were citing an “AI-enhanced” electrocardiogram, which estimated his cardiac age “to be approximately 14 years younger than his chronological age.” This is not a clinically utilized tool and describing a patient being younger in cardiac age isn’t a proper diagnostic finding, they said. 

Jonathan Reiner, former Vice President........

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