A prominent medical analyst has sharply criticized the White House's explanation for former President Donald Trump's recent medical visit, calling the official note "weird," "defensive," and "almost laughable." The controversy centres on a visit Trump made to Walter Reed Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland, in October for what was described as his second "yearly" check-up of the year.
Conflicting Explanations and Expert Skepticism
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters on Monday that Trump had undergone a "preventative MRI" to examine his heart and abdomen. This claim was immediately challenged by CNN medical analyst Dr. Jonathan Reiner, a cardiologist who once treated former Vice President Dick Cheney.
"Well, there really is no preventative cardiac MRI," Reiner stated during an appearance on "News Central." He emphasized that such advanced imaging is not a standard part of a routine physical for an 80-year-old man. Reiner pointed out that the note from the White House seemed deliberately vague, contrasting sharply with the transparency typically expected from presidential medical teams.
A Pattern of Unusual Check-ups
Reiner highlighted that this was Trump's third medical evaluation in a short period, following check-ups in April and July. In July, Trump was diagnosed with chronic venous insufficiency, a generally benign condition where leg veins struggle to return blood to the heart. While this could explain some monitoring, Reiner suggested the frequency and nature of the tests point to deeper concerns.
"This is obviously being done because of some clinical concern," Reiner argued. He noted that if the imaging was related to his known condition or to check for heart issues like thickening or stiffness, that would be a significant detail the public should know. "Instead of this kind of evasive... note, just spell out what happened," he urged.
Contrast with Past Practice and Calls for Clarity
The cardiologist also contrasted the current situation with Trump's first term, where he underwent one comprehensive annual exam, as is customary for presidents. The recent flurry of activity and the opaque language have fueled speculation. Trump's physician, Dr. Sean Barbabella, stated the president is in "excellent health," and Trump himself said he wouldn't mind his "perfect" results being made public.
However, the White House Office of Communications memo only referred to "advanced imaging" being preventative. Reiner dismissed this as unhelpful jargon, comparing it to telling someone a patient had "simple radiologic imaging" instead of specifying a chest X-ray. "I think most physicians would basically agree that advanced imaging is not a routine part of an executive physical for a man or a woman of any age," Reiner concluded, casting further doubt on the official narrative.
