WASHINGTON — Despite borderline high cholesterol and borderline obesity, President Donald Trump is in “excellent health” both mentally and physically, White House Physician Dr. Ronny Jackson said Tuesday at a White House briefing.
Jackson said he performed a Montreal Cognitive Assessment on Trump, who achieved a perfect score. This assessment, which takes about 10 minutes to perform, is designed to test for mild cognitive impairment and Alzheimer’s disease. Jackson said the president asked for this exam himself, and that, to his knowledge, Trump is the first president to ever undergo a mental examination as part of a presidential physical.
Last week, a group of over 70 mental health experts sent a letter to Jackson urging him to perform a mental examination on Trump, age 71, which he initially declined before Trump specifically requested one. Trump’s past behavior patterns have caused concern for some parts of the medical community.
One highly publicized incident regarding the president’s behavior occurred last week during a meeting regarding immigration reform where senators said Trump used an expletive to describe Haiti and African countries.
When pressed on the subject and use of vulgar language, White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders said, “Sometimes the president can be politically incorrect ‒ that’s one of the reasons the American people love him and one of the reasons he’s sitting in the Oval Office today ‒ but I’ve never heard him make a reference like that.”
Even Trump’s physical health has been scrutinized, despite Jackson’s statements that the president is healthy. Former Trump aides Corey Lewandowski and David Bossie have noted the president’s affinity for fast food – most notably, his ability to consume two McDonald’s Big Macs and two Fillet-O-Fish sandwiches in one sitting. The president also has a documented history of weight problems and has been known to sleep few hours per night.
However, Jackson repeatedly emphasized the president’s excellent cardiac health and said his goal in the upcoming year will be to help Trump get on a diet and exercise regimen so he can lose about 10 or 15 pounds.
“The president’s overall health is excellent,” Jackson said. “I think he will remain fit for duty for this term and even for another term.”
