October 16th 2024.
If Donald Trump emerges victorious in the upcoming election, he would make history as the oldest person to be elected president in the United States. Despite being 78 years old, the Republican nominee has chosen to keep details about his physical and mental condition under wraps, breaking a long-standing tradition of transparency among previous presidents.
Over the past year, there have only been a few glimpses into Trump's health. One such instance was in July when he survived an assassination attempt. His physician, Rep. Ronny Jackson, released a memo stating that Trump had suffered a gunshot wound to his right ear. Last November, Trump's personal doctor, Dr. Bruce Aronwald, wrote a letter declaring him to be in excellent health, with exceptional cognitive abilities. However, this letter did not address fundamental questions such as his blood pressure, weight, or whether he was still taking medication for high cholesterol.
His campaign has also not disclosed whether Trump has any underlying medical conditions or if he has received any mental health care following the assassination attempt. This has given his political opponents, including Democratic rival Kamala Harris, an opportunity to raise concerns about his age and fitness to lead the country in his 80s.
Harris recently questioned why Trump's staff would want him to hide away and raised doubts about his physical and mental strength. She pointed out that he had withheld medical records, declined to participate in another debate, and skipped an interview with "60 Minutes." These actions, she suggested, could be a result of fear that people would see him as too weak and unstable to lead the nation.
Trump's doctors have always been secretive about his health, even downplaying the severity of his hospitalization for COVID-19 last year. Despite multiple requests, his representatives have not provided any additional information about his current health.
In contrast, Harris released a letter from her doctor that went into great detail about her medical history, including a list of exams and their results. The letter stated that she has no major health concerns and is in excellent physical and mental shape to serve as president. This transparency stands in stark contrast to Trump's lack of disclosure.
Interestingly, age does not seem to be a significant factor for voters. Polls have shown that voters were more concerned about President Joe Biden's age and mental capacity when he was still in the race. However, since Harris replaced him as the Democratic nominee, Trump's advantage on this issue has diminished.
This situation is ironic for Trump, who had spent years attacking Biden's age and portraying him as too frail to handle the demands of the presidency. After a disastrous debate performance, Biden's fellow Democrats also raised concerns about his age, leading to his decision to withdraw from the race and endorse Harris.
While there is no legal requirement for candidates to release their medical records, it has become a tradition for presidential nominees to do so, given the demands of the job. In 2008, Republican nominee John McCain released over 1,000 pages of medical documents for the public to review. And in 2019, Biden released a three-page note from his doctor after facing scrutiny over his advanced age.
The last comprehensive report on Trump's health was in 2019 when he was still President. The report classified him as obese with a body mass index that puts him at risk for various health issues. It also revealed that he had increased his dosage of medication for high cholesterol. While Trump does not drink or smoke, he has a sedentary lifestyle and only engages in physical activity through playing golf and indulging in fast food.
His family history is also a cause for concern, as his father had Alzheimer's late in life. Trump's supporters argue that his active public lifestyle is evidence that he is not declining in his old age. He plays golf regularly, is an engaging host at social functions, and takes questions from the press more often than Harris.
However, his public appearances are often marked by rambling and confusion. He has been known to mix up names, events, and places. For instance, he once confused Republican rival Nikki Haley with Democratic House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and placed a military base in the wrong location. These slip-ups have raised questions about his mental abilities and have been used by his opponents to criticize his fitness for office.
Trump often addresses these concerns directly, mocking his critics for declaring him cognitively impaired because of a simple mispronunciation. He reminds them that everyone will experience a decline in their mental abilities eventually, and he will be the first to admit when it happens. However, without further information, experts estimate that Trump has a 79% chance of surviving a four-year term, while Harris has a 97% chance.
Ultimately, it is not about age but functionality when it comes to the presidency, cautions aging researcher S. Jay Olshansky. He studies presidential health and believes that candidates should release their medical records for the public's scrutiny. Only then can voters make an informed decision about the person who will lead their country.
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