Donald Trump’s health has taken center stage once more—this time sparking fresh controversy after a recent medical visit prompted a former White House doctor to raise red flags.
While the former president’s team insists everything is “perfect,” not everyone is convinced, and the latest claims have reignited public debate over Trump’s true condition.
On October 10, the 79-year-old former president traveled to the Walter Reed Military Medical Center for what was described as a routine MRI and checkup. His personal physician, Dr. Sean Barbabella, quickly released an official memo declaring that Trump is in “excellent overall health,” with test results that allegedly defy his age.
Dr. Barbabella noted that Trump underwent “advanced imaging, laboratory testing, and preventive health assessments,” adding that his metabolic, hematologic, and cardiac markers were all “stable.”
The memo also highlighted that Trump’s “cardiac age”—a measure of cardiovascular health—was 14 years younger than his biological age. Trump even received his annual flu shot and updated COVID-19 booster during the visit.
“I gave you the full results,” Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One later that day, en route to Japan. “We did the MRI, everything—perfect. Some of the best reports they’ve ever seen.”
But the so-called “perfection” of Trump’s health isn’t sitting well with everyone.
Dr. Jeffrey Kuhlman, a former White House physician who served during the Clinton, Bush, and Obama administrations, says there’s something off about the story. Speaking to The Hill this week, he questioned why Trump needed to travel to Walter Reed at all, when such tests—especially standard MRIs—can be done at the White House in as little as 15 minutes.
“It’s about an eight-minute helicopter ride from the South Lawn to Walter Reed,” Kuhlman explained. “So we know he at least had four hours available to undergo medical care. There’s a disconnect there. Why go through all that unless more was going on?”
The timeframe, according to Kuhlman, strongly suggests that Trump underwent additional or more extensive medical procedures—likely undisclosed.
The concerns aren’t baseless. In the past, Trump has made unpublicized visits to Walter Reed, sparking similar speculation. A surprise 2019 visit, later downplayed as a routine physical, led to whispers of possible cardiac issues—rumors that were never fully addressed. And now, with Trump being one of the oldest individuals to potentially seek the Oval Office again in 2024, scrutiny is at an all-time high.
Still, Trump remains tight-lipped about the specific reason for the MRI. His team maintains there’s nothing to see here—and dismisses all speculation as politically motivated.
Yet critics, including some GOP insiders, are calling for more transparency. With Trump’s age and his reported plans for a political comeback, they argue that full disclosure of his health records is not just fair—but necessary.
In a political landscape where physical stamina is equated with leadership strength, Trump has always prided himself on appearing vigorous and unstoppable. But with the latest questions surrounding his medical visits, that image is once again being tested.
As the 2024 election cycle looms closer, expect Trump’s health to remain a hot-button issue—not just for his opponents, but for millions of voters who want to know: is the former president as “perfect” as he claims, or is something being kept from public view?