The White House physician released a memorandum insisting that President Trump’s weekend visit to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center was routine amid “speculation” that he suffered a medical emergency.
On Saturday, White House press secretary Stephanie Grisham claimed that Trump, 73, began portions of his annual physical exam ahead of schedule because the president is facing a “very busy 2020.” White House physician Dr. Sean Conley echoed Grisham’s remarks in a memorandum released late Monday night.
“This past Saturday afternoon the President traveled up to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center for a routine, planned interim checkup as part of the regular, primary preventative care he receives throughout the year,” Conley said. “Due to scheduling uncertainties, the trip was kept off the record.”
Memorandum from the President’s Physician pic.twitter.com/yzkjqCBBHc
— Stephanie Grisham (@PressSec) November 19, 2019
Conley explained that the screening took an hour, and Trump also visited with hospital staff and the family of a soldier undergoing surgery. The doctor directly addressed rumors that Trump’s visit to Walter Reed was a medical emergency.
“Despite some of the speculation, the President has not had any chest pain, nor was he evaluated or treated for any urgent or acute issues. Specifically, he did not undergo any specialized cardiac or neurologic evaluations,” Conley said.
He noted that details from the latest medical examination will be included in 2020’s medical report, and said that Trump’s exam “is not just a single annual event.”
Despite Conley’s efforts to quash the speculation that Trump was seriously ill, several people took to Twitter to question the memorandum.
So not so much an annual physical anymore as “regular, primary preventative care” that required an unscheduled trip to the hospital rather than being handled at the White House Medical Unit https://t.co/rzgZn7En5R
— Matthew Yglesias (@mattyglesias) November 19, 2019
They are freaking shameless in their lies. https://t.co/Brdn4MYTgY
— Ellen Hopkins (@EllenHopkinsLit) November 19, 2019
This is a really weird, defensive statement. The first sentence alone has roughly four synonyms for “routine.” It then tells us all the medical problems Trump is definitely not having. It’s a good thing this White House has developed a reputation for honesty and transparency. https://t.co/eRXRQZHRz1
— Seth Masket (@smotus) November 19, 2019
The 2020 presidential primaries so far include several candidates over the age of 70, in addition to Trump. Democratic Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, 78, suffered a heart attack in October, while Joe Biden, 76, faced questions about his health after a blood vessel appeared to burst in his eye during a CNN town hall in September.
