President Donald Trump will visit Walter Reed National Military Medical Center on Friday for what the White House calls a “routine yearly checkup.” It will actually be his second one this year.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said the president’s trip will also include a “planned meeting” with troops stationed at the facility.
“On Friday morning, President Trump will visit Walter Reed Medical Center for a planned meeting and remarks with the troops. While there, President Trump will stop by for his routine yearly checkup,” Leavitt said in a statement.
She added that the president might travel to the Middle East later that day, where he hopes to push for a peace deal between Israel and Hamas.
Stay up-to-date with the latest news!
Subscribe and start recieving our daily emails.
The visit comes only months after Trump’s last physical exam in April, when the White House physician said he was “fully fit” to perform the duties of the presidency and in “excellent health.” That exam included lab work, a physical evaluation, and a cognitive test.
At 79, Trump is the oldest person ever to begin a term as president. The White House has said he remains in strong health, though over the summer, he was diagnosed with chronic venous insufficiency, a condition that causes swelling in the lower legs when veins have trouble sending blood back to the heart.
Doctors say the condition is common for people in their seventies and usually not serious. Symptoms can include swelling, aching, or visible veins in the legs.
The White House did not explain why the president is returning to Walter Reed for a second checkup this year, and Leavitt did not say whether any new tests or procedures are planned. Reporters from several outlets said they had asked for more details but received no response.
Trump has often dismissed speculation about his health, insisting that he feels “in very good shape.” He has compared his energy and endurance to those of people decades younger and has used the topic to take jabs at his opponents, including former president Joe Biden, who is one year older.
In September, Trump addressed viral claims that he had died, saying “I didn’t see that” when asked about the rumors. He added “That’s pretty serious stuff,” and blamed “fake news” for the spread of the stories.
Featured image via Political Tribune Gallery
