Physicians have criticized the level of detail in President Donald Trump’s latest medical report, saying it lacks key data about his cardiovascular health despite White House claims that the 79-year-old remains in excellent condition.
Trump underwent his annual physical examination on Tuesday at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, spending approximately three hours undergoing a series of tests.
The summary, released on Friday, 29, by his physician, Navy Capt. Sean Barbabella, described the president as demonstrating “strong cardiac, pulmonary, neurological and overall physical function.”
Limited Cardiac Details Released
An AI-enhanced electrocardiogram estimated Trump’s cardiac age at 65, 14 years younger than his actual age.
It also referenced a coronary CT angiography to check for narrowed or blocked arteries, an echocardiogram, and an ultrasound of the carotid arteries, all of which were reported as normal, with “no arterial obstruction or structural abnormalities” in the heart or major blood vessels.
Trump continues to take medication for cholesterol management and low-dose aspirin. The report noted slight improvement in chronic venous insufficiency in his lower legs.
However, several doctors who reviewed the publicly released memorandum told The Wall Street Journal that important quantitative information typically expected in such assessments was missing.
Doctors Call for More Data
Dr William Shutze, a Texas vascular surgeon, said he would expect more specifics on the carotid ultrasound. “What amount of plaque there is going to be, because almost all of us are going to have some buildup there,” he noted.
Physicians pointed to several absent details: the ejection fraction (the percentage of blood pumped by the heart with each contraction), which was included in Trump’s 2018 medical report; a coronary artery calcium score; detailed descriptions of any plaque buildup; and a CAD-RADS score used to assess the degree of narrowing in coronary arteries.
The current report states there is “no arterial obstruction,” but the majority argue this does not fully address the extent of potential milder atherosclerosis common in individuals of Trump’s age.
White House Defends Report
White House communications director Steven Cheung pushed back against the criticism.
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“President Trump has publicly released more detailed information about his health than any other president in history, showing he is in excellent health,” Cheung said in a statement.
He criticized doctors for speculating about a patient they are not treating and emphasized that any omitted data should be interpreted as indicating “no clinically meaningful abnormalities.” There is no legal requirement for presidents to disclose detailed health records.
Scrutiny Over Presidential Health
The debate comes as questions about the physical and cognitive fitness of elderly leaders have intensified in American politics. Trump, who will turn 80 later this month, is the second-oldest person to serve as president. His predecessor, Joe Biden, was 82 when he left office.
The White House has not indicated it will release additional raw data from the examination. Captain Barbabella’s summary remains the only official public document detailing the president’s current health status.
