US Vice President Kamala Harris has launched a scathing attack on Donald Trump, questioning his stance on health policies and highlighting concerns about his leadership.
The White House released a letter from Vice President Kamala Harris’s doctor, stating that her physical and mental health is “excellent.” Her campaign quickly leveraged this report to question whether former President Donald Trump might be concealing something about his own health.
The two-page document, authored by Dr. Joshua Simmons and issued on Saturday, indicated that Harris is “a healthy 59-year-old female with a medical history notable for seasonal allergies and urticaria.” It mentioned she has never had severe symptoms and described her most recent physical examination in April 2024 as otherwise “unremarkable.”
The doctor highlighted that Harris follows a healthy diet, exercises consistently, avoids tobacco products, and consumes alcohol “only occasionally and in moderation.” In his conclusion, he stated that she “has the physical and mental resilience needed to effectively fulfill the responsibilities of the presidency.”
Later in the day, Harris addressed the issue, stating it was “clear” that her opponent and his team “do not want the American people to see what he is doing or whether he is fit to be President of the United States.”
“Today, I released my medical records, which I believe every candidate for President of the United States has done in this election cycle—except Donald Trump. It’s yet another example of his lack of transparency,” Harris informed reporters.
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Trump’s campaign responded to Harris’s questioning of his health by highlighting his very busy and active campaign schedule. On Saturday, spokesperson Steven Cheung stated that Trump “has voluntarily released updates from his personal physician over the years,” all indicating he is in “perfect and excellent health to be Commander in Chief.”
In November 2023, Trump shared a similar letter from his doctor affirming that his “overall health is excellent” and highlighting that his “cognitive exams were exceptional.” Dr. Bruce Aronwald, who has been Trump’s personal physician since 2021, mentioned that all of Trump’s cancer screening tests came back negative, his cardiovascular assessments were normal, and he had managed to reduce weight through daily exercise and an improved diet. More recently, Trump issued a statement from Ronny Jackson, his former White House doctor after the July assassination attempt where a bullet grazed him near the ear.
Uncertainty about President Joe Biden’s physical and mental fitness for office has been a persistent issue in his campaign, with Republicans frequently claiming that the 81-year-old does not have the acuity to serve.
Before Biden withdrew from the race, Trump frequently criticized the 81-year-old for his physical and mental stamina. Democrats generally downplayed worries regarding his age until Biden’s underwhelming performance at a CNN-hosted debate with Trump in June highlighted his apparent weakness.
After 59-year-old US Vice President Kamala Harris was named the Democratic Party’s nominee for the November election, her supporters have increasingly used a similar line of attack against Trump. At 78, Trump is currently the oldest presidential nominee in US history and would become the oldest president if he secures a second term.
