On Friday, Donald Trump, the Republican presidential nominee and former U.S. President, declined further requests to release his current medical records. This decision comes as Vice President Kamala Harris, the Democratic nominee, continues to suggest doubts about his suitability for the presidency. When questioned about his health records, the 78-year-old nominee implied that he had already provided sufficient information regarding his medical condition.
In response to inquiries about releasing his medical records, Trump stated, “I’ve done five exams over the last four years. You’ve got them all.” He made these remarks to a reporter on the tarmac after landing in Detroit, Michigan. Trump subsequently suggested that his campaign efforts against Harris were his priority and that updating his health records was not feasible at this time.
Trump claimed to have completed cognitive tests on two occasions, achieving a perfect score, and challenged Harris to do the same. His comments ended abruptly as he left the press gathering. The Trump campaign did not respond to requests for further comments on these statements made in Michigan.
In August, Trump informed CBS News of his readiness to release his medical records, though his campaign has not yet done so. By contrast, Harris, who will soon turn 60, made her health report public on October 12, with details provided by her White House doctor. On the same day, Trump campaign spokesperson Steven Cheung claimed in a statement that Trump had voluntarily released multiple health reports. Cheung referred to a letter from Dr. Bruce Aronwald and memos from Republican Rep. Ronny Jackson that pertained to Trump’s health assessments.
Harris has recently intensified her criticisms of Trump’s transparency about his health, raising concerns that Trump, if elected, would be the oldest person to assume the U.S. presidency. At a rally in North Carolina, she focused on Trump’s failure to release a comprehensive health report and his decision not to participate in a second debate, questioning whether this decision reflects weaknesses in his ability to lead.
Adding to the discourse, Harris referenced a Politico report where a Trump adviser mentioned that he withdrew from a podcast interview due to exhaustion. Trump has canceled several interviews, including one with CNBC, in the lead-up to the election. Harris suggested that if Trump struggles with the demands of campaigning, his capability to serve effectively could be questioned. In various interviews, she labeled Trump as “unfit to serve,” “unstable,” and “dangerous.”
Harris also critiqued Trump for an unusual occurrence during a town hall event near Philadelphia, where he spent 39 minutes listening to music on stage after medical emergencies disrupted the session. Responding to the incident, Harris’ account on X commented dryly with, “Hope he’s okay.”
