For generations, the President of the United States has had to get a physical examination to prove they were fit for office. In February 2024, President Joe Biden was deemed healthy by his physical exam, despite rumours he was ill. Donald Trump recently announced he was getting his physical on Friday 11 April 2025, at the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center. Find out what the results could mean for the President below.
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Donald Trump is getting a physical today
President Donald Trump explained the physical examination was mandatory, and he is obliged to get it, although he feels healthy. He posted on his Truth Social account:
I have never felt better, but nevertheless, these things must be done.
Traditionally, presidents get their physical examination at the hospital in Maryland, and the results are later revealed by the White House appointed physician. However, some results are kept private.
The exam usually includes blood tests, screenings, and checks for vitals such as blood pressure and heart rate. The 78-year-old politician has often claimed his physical and mental health were much better than his predecessor, President Joe Biden, especially during the latest presidential campaign. By the end of his second term, Donald Trump will be 82 years old, making him the oldest sitting president in US history.
Will the results be made public?
While the results of the presidents' physical examination are mostly made public, some politicians may choose to keep them to themselves. Indeed, they are under no obligation to reveal the results, according to S. Jay Olshansky, a professor in the School of Public Health at the University of Illinois Chicago. The medical expert explained:
Keep in mind, medical records are private. Presidents do not have to reveal their medical records.
During his first term in office, Donald Trump was deemed to be the 'healthiest individual ever elected to the presidency' by his personal physician, Dr. Harold Bornstein. In 2015, he declared in an open letter:
I am pleased to report that President Trump's overall health is excellent. His physical exams were well within the normal range and his cognitive exams were exceptional.
The President's exams showed he was reportedly well within the norms for people his age. He also improved his health by losing some weight, still according to his personal physician:
In addition, his most recent extensive laboratory analysis remains well within normal limits and was even more favorable than prior testing in some of the most significant parameters, most likely secondary to weight reduction. Cardiovascular studies are all normal and cancer screening tests are all negative. President Trump has reduced his weight through an improved diet and continued daily physical activity, while maintaining a rigorous schedule.
In 2018, Dr. Harold Bornstein revealed to CNN that the letter he wrote had been dictated to him by the President himself. The results of President Donald Trump's latest physical examination are expected to be made public, although no date has been given just yet.
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Sources used:
Newsweek: Donald Trump To Have Physical Examination This Week: What To Know
NPR: Trump is getting a physical. What will be included in the report?
