A former White House cardiologist is demanding answers about President Donald Trump's health, pointing to visible bruising on his hands, leg swelling, and episodes where he appeared to nod off in public. Jonathan Reiner, who treated former Vice President Dick Cheney for 27 years, argued in a New York Times op-ed that the lack of mandatory presidential fitness certification is an error and called for binding health evaluations. Reiner noted Trump has undergone advanced imaging for unclear reasons and was examined by an unusual 22 specialists.
The White House defended Trump's fitness without addressing the specific medical questions. Spokesman Davis Ingle dismissed Reiner as a "Democrat hack doctor" and called Trump the most energetic president in history. Trump's physician, Dr. Sean Barbabella, previously attributed hand bruising to daily aspirin use and frequent handshaking, and diagnosed chronic venous insufficiency behind the leg swelling.
Public skepticism persists: a Washington Post/ABC News/Ipsos poll found 55 percent of U.S. adults believe the 80-year-old president is not physically fit to serve effectively.