Democratic contender for the presidency, Kamala Harris, is reported to be in “excellent health,” as indicated by a comprehensive medical evaluation released by the White House. This announcement comes as Harris’s campaign takes a bold step, urging her opponent, Donald Trump, to unveil his health records as well.
“Vice President Harris is in superb health,” her physician, Joshua Simmons, emphasized in the report. He went on to state that she “exhibits both the physical stamina and mental clarity necessary to fulfill the responsibilities of the presidency.”
Shortly thereafter, Harris’s communications director, Ian Sams, directly confronted Donald Trump, asking, “What’s he hiding?” This pointed challenge added fuel to the growing fire surrounding the health disclosures of both candidates.
As Harris’s team intensified their call for transparency regarding the 78-year-old Trump’s physical and cognitive fitness, the former president’s camp responded robustly, defending his record.
During an August press encounter, when queried about releasing his medical information, Trump casually responded, “Oh sure, I would do that very gladly, sure.” Yet, he hasn’t provided any substantive medical documentation since that time.
On the other hand, Kamala Harris had her latest medical check-up in April, which her doctor described as “unremarkable.” In a comprehensive assessment, he noted that she deals with seasonal allergies and hives, which are managed through both over-the-counter and prescription meds.
The report further mentioned that Harris is slightly nearsighted and relies on contact lenses to correct her vision.
Significantly, Donald Trump became the oldest nominee in U.S. presidential history after President Joe Biden, aged 81, withdrew from the race in July. In contrast, Kamala Harris is 59 years old.
This transition of leadership came after a particularly troubling debate performance by Biden against Trump raised alarms in the Democratic camp concerning his cognitive sharpness.
When pressed by a reporter about his health records in August, Trump affirmed he would “gladly” share them.
The electoral contest is setting up to be extraordinarily close.
Despite this, Trump’s noticeable energy appears not to have dampened his prospects in an intensely competitive election race with Harris, scheduled for November 5. The Biden-Harris team is keenly aware of the stakes and challenges they face.
Harris’s campaign highlighted a series of recent articles in the New York Times, which spotlighted Trump’s failure to make essential health details public. The publication also featured an in-depth analysis of Trump’s recent speeches, suggesting they display a growing tendency towards “confusion” and crudeness, which experts have linked to potential cognitive deterioration.
In response to these concerns, Trump has consistently asserted his fitness, and his campaign recently circulated statements from his previous White House physician, Ronny Jackson. Jackson claimed Trump was “doing extremely well” and “recovering rapidly” from a bullet grazing his ear, incident that occurred during a July assassination attempt.
Moreover, the campaign showcased a note from another doctor, Bruce Aronwald, who had evaluated Trump in September 2023. He declared Trump to be in “excellent” health but did not elaborate on the specifics of any medical tests conducted.
Trump’s camp contended that he has maintained an “exceptionally busy and active campaign schedule, unlike any other in political history.” They also insinuated that Harris’s relatively lighter campaign load indicates she is “wholly unqualified to serve as President of the United States.”
It’s worth noting that Trump’s personal health narratives have often walked a fine line between exuberance and exaggeration. Back in 2015, while running for the presidency, his physician Harold Bernstein asserted Trump would be “the healthiest individual ever elected to the presidency.” Not to be outdone, Jackson claimed in 2018 that with a healthier lifestyle, Trump could potentially live to be 200.
Should Trump claim victory in the upcoming election, he would be 82 years old at the conclusion of a potential second term, making history once again.
Edited by: Ali Musa
alimusa@axadletimes.com
Axadle international–Monitoring
