In brief
In a memo released by the White House, Dr. Sean Barbabella details Trump's robust health, highlighting significant lifestyle factors and a clean bill of neurological health.
The President of the United States, Donald Trump, has been reported to be in "excellent cognitive and physical health" according to a detailed memo from his White House physician, Captain Sean Barbabella. This assessment follows Trump's first annual physical examination during his second term, conducted at a hospital near Washington D.C. On the report, Barbabella noted that Trump had shown "scaring on the right ear from a gunshot wound" sustained during an assassination attempt in July of the previous year."President Trump remains in excellent health, exhibiting robust cardiac, pulmonary, neurological, and general physical function," Barbabella stated. Despite Trump being the oldest president at initiation of the term at 78, he remains physically active, which Barbabella credited as a significant factor in maintaining his well-being.The nearly five-hour examination at Walter Reed hospital involved blood tests, cardiac assessments, and ultrasounds. It also included a cognitive evaluation, where Trump scored a perfect 30 out of 30 on the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), a standard tool used to detect cognitive decline. The tests included various tasks aimed at evaluating mental acuity, and Trump expressed confidence in his performance, stating, "I got every answer right."Addressing reporters during a flight on Air Force One, Trump emphasized, "Overall, I felt I was in very good shape," while acknowledging some lifestyle advice received from physicians that he chose not to disclose. The memo also addressed minor skin issues, including "benign skin lesions" and "minor sun damage."Trump's medication regimen was noted to include drugs for managing cholesterol, as well as medications aimed at cardiac prevention and treating a skin condition. His cardiac exam returned no abnormalities, although he has a history of controlled hypercholesterolemia. Currently weighing 224 pounds at a height of 6 feet 2.5 inches, Trump has lost some weight since early 2019 when he weighed in at 243 pounds. He currently falls within the overweight range according to the Body Mass Index, but not classified as obese. The memo marks the first detailed public medical report following the gun-related incident at a campaign event last year, where Trump survived an assassination attempt that left him with a superficial ear injury. In prior reports during his first term, medical assessments consistently indicated that while he was generally healthy, he could improve on lifestyle aspects such as exercise and weight management. Throughout the campaign trail, Trump often criticized rival Joe Biden over health concerns, particularly focusing on cognitive abilities after a notable debate wherein Biden did not disclose if he had taken a cognitive test during his presidency.
