'Fully fit to carry out all duties': Presidential physician says Trump 'in excellent health' but should lose weight
US President Donald Trumpโs doctor said he was in โexcellent healthโ but advised him to lose weight, according to a memo released on Friday after the 79-year-old underwent a routine medical check. โPresident Trump remains in excellent health, demonstrating strong cardiac, pulmonary, neurological, and overall physical function,โ said Trumpโs doctor, US Navy Captain Sean Barbabella. โPreventative counseling was provided, including guidance on diet, recommendation to take a low-dose aspirin, increased physical activity, and continued weight loss.โ The three-page memo provides an overview of Trumpโs physical examination and diagnostic testing conducted at Walter Reed Medical Hospital near Washington on Tuesday. Barbabella said Trump was โfully fit to carry out all duties of the Commander-in-Chief and Head of Stateโ. Trump, who turns 80 next month, is on three medications, two of which are designated for cholesterol control and the third being aspirin for โcardiac preventionโ. Standing at six foot three inches (191 cm) tall, Trumpโs weight increased to 238 pounds (108 kilogrammes) from his publicly released weight of 224 pounds (101.6kg) from his last full annual medical in April last year. The check-up was Trumpโs third medical examination since returning to office last year and follows mounting speculation about health issues, including bruising on his hands and apparent sleepiness during meetings. Barbabellaโs memo cited Trumpโs โslight lower leg swelling โฆ with improvement from last yearโ and continued hand bruising, described as โcommon,โ โbenignโ and โconsistent with minor soft tissue irritation related to frequent handshaking in the setting of aspirin use for cardiovascular preventionโ. The memo did not address the reason for skin treatment in March on the presidentโs neck and did not indicate he underwent another magnetic resonance imaging exam, as he did in October. Fridayโs memo said the presidentโs overall cardiac function is normal and that โa comprehensive neurological examination demonstrated normal mental status,โ including screenings for depression and anxiety. Trump for his part said the exam went โPERFECTLYโ in a post on his Truth Social platform shortly after the appointment.