The White House is saying little about President Trump’s check-up at Walter Reed Tuesday, his third in 13 months. Critics say the lack of transparency only raises more questions about his health.
A MARTÍNEZ, HOST:
The White House is saying little about President Trump’s checkup at Walter Reed Medical Center, his third visit since April of last year. Critics say there has been a continual lack of transparency regarding the health of the president, who turns 80 next month. Here’s NPR White House correspondent Deepa Shivaram.
DEEPA SHIVARAM, BYLINE: The White House billed Trump’s visit to Walter Reed as a routine medical exam after Trump posted on social media, saying that, quote, “everything checked out perfectly.” But the White House has not yet released specifics on which doctors Trump saw Monday. It also hasn’t released a medical summary from Trump’s doctor, though the White House says that’s in the works.
Even previous reports on Trump’s health, though, have been somewhat vague, saying he’s in, quote, “excellent condition” while also noting conditions like chronic venous insufficiency, which is when veins struggle to send blood to the heart and can cause swollen ankles. The lack of specifics about the health of the second-oldest president in U.S. history has raised some concerns. Trump has kept a fairly busy schedule as president, but he’s occasionally been seen on camera appearing to doze off during White House events. He also has a large bruise on his hand that he often covers with makeup. He says it’s from taking too much aspirin.
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PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP: I take the big aspirin. And when you take the big aspirin, they tell you you bruise.
SHIVARAM: Trump’s last annual physical exam was in April 2025. Then last October, he went back to Walter Reed for a scheduled follow-up. The White House leader revealed that was for a CT scan, but it took two months for that information to come out. The president has sometimes mocked his political rivals for their age and lack of energy, but polling shows Americans are concerned about Trump’s age. A February poll from Reuters/Ipsos says a majority of Americans, including 30% of Republicans, say Trump has become erratic with age.
Deepa Shivaram, NPR News, Washington.
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