Controversy Over Trump's Medical Records Explained

A.As calls for Donald Trump to disclose his medical records increase, Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris once again addressed her opponent at the rally held in Houston, Texas, on Friday. He noted the legal battle by Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton and other Texas right-wing leaders to access the private medical records of patients seeking out-of-state abortions.

“Please see the irony,” Harris said. “On the one hand, Donald Trump won’t let anyone see his medical records. I gave up on mine! “On the other hand, they want to get your medical records.”

In Harris’ report, physician Joshua R. Simmons said the Vice President “possesses the physical and mental stamina necessary to successfully discharge the duties of the Presidency.”

Shortly after the release of the Harris campaign Vice President’s medical report Over 200 on October 12 doctors and healthcare providers He signed an open letter calling on Trump to release him.

Letter dated 13 October At a meeting organized by the group Doctors for Harris, he argued that the former President should have similar transparency “given her advanced age.”

“The American people deserve to have confidence in the mental and physical capacities of our elected officials to do the jobs they have elected them to do,” they wrote. “Given his advanced age, Trump must go above and beyond to provide transparency about his physical health and mental acuity.”

This issue has become even more salient for Trump since 81-year-old President Joe Biden. Withdrew from the presidential election On July 21, Trump, 78, was left running against Harris, then 59.

While it is generally customary for presidential candidates to share their medical records, there is no law requiring Trump to disclose his records. The more Trump refuses to do what Democrats want from him, the more his base supports him, according to Jeff Gulati, a political science professor at Bentley University in Waltham, Mass.

“It’s really just a matter of public opinion now, and he’s gotten away with not sharing it in two consecutive elections,” Gulati told TIME. “So, you know, there’s no real incentive to release them now.”

The last medical report that Trump shared with the public was featured in a news report. November 20, 2023, Truth Social Dr. The post included a screenshot of Bruce Aronwald’s letter, which shared few details but noted that the former President was in “excellent health.”

In August, Trump said he would do so. “satisfaction” is sharing his medical records but has not yet done so. But in October when journalists approached When asked about his medical records, Trump said the public already had enough information about his health.

“Yes, my health records; I have had five examinations in the last four years. “You’ve got all of that,” he said. “I took my health exams and also took cognitive tests twice and passed them.”

If Trump is elected in November, he will become the oldest President of the United States by the end of his term, a major concern from doctors’ open letter centered around the Republican candidate’s age and mental acuity. This is the same scrutiny that befell Trump’s former rival.

Gulati, meanwhile, says the Harris campaign must “draw a fine line in not being seen as ageist” when discussing Trump’s medical records. “This is obviously a sensitive issue for Democrats,” he says. “Age and health are clearly linked, but Harris can’t really go there.”

Trump campaign on the day Harris released her medical records commented Trump himself records in a press release.

“President Trump voluntarily received updates from his personal physician, as well as the Dr. He published detailed reports of Ronny Jackson. assassination attempt. “They all concluded that he was perfect and healthy to be Commander in Chief,” Trump Campaign Communications Director Steven Cheung said.

Trump’s medical team has remained tight-lipped about information about the former President’s medical records after the attempt or the extent of the ear wound he suffered during the July 13 assassination attempt at a campaign event in Pennsylvania.

Republican representative and Texas doctor Ronny Jackson did this write a signed letter In the statement made on July 20, it was stated that the ear wound was caused by a gunshot and that the wound “began to granulate and heal properly.” Jackson was released A follow-up letter on July 26He provides an update on Trump’s ear wound.

Related Posts