Donald Trump's Physical Exam

Overview

Donald Trump's Physical Exam refers to the public skepticism and response to United States President Donald Trump's various health reports. Many online questioned the results, particularly in regards to Trump's height and weight.

Background

2015 Exam

On December 14th, 2015, then-presidential candidate Donald Trump posted a health report from his doctor Harold Bornstein. He captioned the letter:

"I am proud to share this report, written by the highly respected Dr. Harold Bornstein of Lenox Hill Hospital, stating that I am in excellent health. I am fortunate to have been blessed with great genes - both of my parents had very long and productive lives. I have truly enjoyed working on the campaign trail with one objective in mind, to Make America Great Again!

"People have been impressed by my stamina, but to me it has been easy because I am truly doing something that I love. Our country will soon be better and stronger than ever before."

On Facebook, ^[20] the post (shown below) received more than 50,000 reactions, 4,400 shares and 6,100 comments in two years.

Harold Bornstein Photograph

On August 26th, 2016, NBC News^[21] reported that Trump's medical examiner, Dr. Bornstein wrote the letter of Trump's health in five minutes while they waited for a limo. Along with the report, the news organization published a picture of Dr. Bornstein at his desk (shown below).

Shortly after the picture was published, people online began making jokes about the doctor. Star Trek actor Brent Spiner tweeted,^[22] "I will be playing the role of Dr. Born stein in 'Trump--The Miniseries.'" The post (shown below, left) received more than 1,100 retweets and 2,900 likes in a year and a half.

Throughout the day, people compared the photograph of Trump's doctor to other famous mad scientists and doctors from popular culture (examples below, center and right).

2018 Exam

On January 16th, 2018, the White House released the Preisdent's Periodic Physical Exam, his first since taking the White House.^[1] The memo was released by Dr. Ronny Jackson, Trump's physician, who summarized the president's health as:

"The President’s overall health is excellent. His cardiac performance during his physical exam was very good. He continues to enjoy the significant long term cardiac and overall health benefits that come from a lifetime of abstinence from tobacco and alcohol. We discussed diet, exercise and weight loss. He would benefit from a diet that is lower in fat and carbohydrates and from a routine exercise regimen. He has a history of elevated cholesterol and is currently on a low dose of Rosuvastatin. In order to further reduce his cholesterol level and further decrease his cardiac risk, we will increase the dose of this particular medication. The President is currently up to date on all recommended preventive medicine screening tests and exams.

"All clinical data indicates that the President is currently very healthy and that he will remain so for the duration of his Presidency."

Jackson read the results at the White House press briefing that day (video below).^[2]

Development

Online Reaction

Shortly after the examination was released, many online began discussing what the findings were, particularly in regards to the reportedly unconventional cognitive examination, which Trump requested due to concerns of his mental fitness for office. Daily Mail political reporter David Martosko tweeted, ^[3] "Trump's doctor says he scored 30/30 on the Montreal Cognitive Assessment. That's a screening test for dementia and Alzheimer's. This should (but probably won't) put to rest all the speculation about the president's mental state." The tweet (shown below, left) received more than 3,300 retweets and 10,000 likes in less than 24 hours.

Others questioned Trump's weight. Twitter^[4] user @RexRomanTweets wrote, "The reason Trump’s reported weight is 239lbs is that 240lbs in a 6’3” man would be considered obese by BMI. A very convenient single pound. #TuesdayThoughts." The post (shown below, center) received more than 1,600 retweets and 6,700 likes in less than 24 hours.

New Yorker and HuffPost writer Yashar Ali warned people to be cautious of conspiracy theories. He tweeted^[5] a picture of Dr. Jackson with President Barack Obama with the caption "Dr. Ronny Jackson has been the Presidential physician since 2013. Give the conspiracy theories a rest." The tweet (shown below, right) received more than 6,000 retweets and 17,000 likes in 24 hours.

That night, Twitter published two Moments pages on the physical exam.^[13][19]

That day, Redditor ^[6] GallowPlaceholder posted about the physical in the /r/politics subreddit. Within 24 hours, the post received more than 2,500 points (93% upvoted) and 1,500 comments. Redditor^[7] scribens posted a followup thread under the title "User proves Trump's height has been falsified in recent physical" in the /r/bestof subreddit. The post received more than 4,500 points (83% upvoted) and 500 comments in 24 hours.

Redditor^[8] EaglePatriot420 celebrated the results in the /r/The_Donald subreddit. They wrote, "Trump asked for a 'cognitive exam' beyond the pale of POTUS physicals -- AND HE (B)ACED IT!!!!!!!!" The post received more than 940 points (95% upvoted) in 24 hours.

Girther Movement

The conspiracy theories, jokes and speculation regarding Trump's weight were cataloged under the name "girther movement". The primary focus of "girtherism" reflected Trump's weight and height, which many believe to have proof that contradicts the doctor's assessment.

That evening, MSNBC commentator Chris Hayes tweeted,^[9] "Has anyone coined "girther" for those who belive the president weighs more than his doctor reports?" The tweet (shown below) received more than 24,000 retweets and 100,000 likes within 24 hours.

Some online began making comparisons to the weight and height Dr. Jackson reported to athletes with the same height and weight. AV Club writer Dennis Perkins tweeted^[10] a picture of NFL player Latavius Murray juxtaposed with a picture of Trump. He included the caption "L: Vikings running back Latavius Murray. R: Donald Trump. Both listed officially at 6'3"/235 lbs. #Girther" The post (shown below, left) received more than 6,200 retweets and 12,000 likes in less than 24 hours.

Guardians of the Galaxy director James Gunn tweeted a picture of Trump standing next to baseball player Alex Rodriguez and the caption "Two 6'3" men standing next to each other. #Girther #GirtherMovement. Within 24 hours, Gunn's tweet received more than 960 retweets and 3,000 likes.

Twitter^[13] user @GershKuntzman tweeted a picture of Trump's driver's license with the caption, "For the record, @realDonaldTrump said he was 74 inches in 2012. Now his doctor says he's 75 inches. And that one inch makes is BMI 'overweight' not 'obese.' I'm a #girther because old men don't GROW an inch!" The tweet (shown below, right) received more than 3,100 retweets and 8,200 likes.

Media Coverage

Nearly every major outlet covered the president's physical exam results, including CNN,^[14] The New York Times,^[15] The Washington Post,^[16] New York magazine,^[17] Fox News^[18] and more.

Dr. Bornstein's Retraction

On Febraury 1st, 2017, Dr. Bornstein told the New york Times that Trump takes three medication, including a prostate-related drug that promotes hair growth] According to the report, Trump takes a small dosage Finasterride, which is marketed as Propecia for male-pattern baldness.

The following year, on May 1st, Bornstein told NBC News^[24] that two days after the New York Times report, on February 3rd, that two men who work for Trump's security detail, including security head Keith Schiller and attorney Alan garten, and a third, unnamed man allegedly raided Bornstein's office of Trump medical records.

Bornstein said of the incident, "I feel raped -- that’s how I feel. Raped, frightened, and sad. I couldn’t believe anybody was making a big deal out of a drug to grow his hair that seemed to be so important. And it certainly is not a breach of medical trust to tell somebody they take Propecia to grow their hair. What’s the matter with that?"

The next day, on May 2nd, Bornstein told CNN^[25] that Trump had dictated the initial health letter in 2015. Bornstein said, "He dictated that whole letter. I didn't write that letter. I just made it up as I went along."

Online, people reacted with both surprise and confusion, as well as the opposite, with some claiming that this was very unsurprising (examples below).

Search Interest

External References