The 2024 presidential race faces growing questions over the health transparency of both former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris.
With just two months until Election Day, neither candidate has provided comprehensive, recent medical records, as CBS News reports.
As voters prepare to cast their ballots, the lack of detailed health updates from both Trump and Harris has raised curiosity about the respective physical fitness to lead the country.
At 78 years old, former President Donald Trump’s health is under intense scrutiny. During an interview on Aug. 20, Trump stated that he had recently undergone an annual physical and would release the results “very gladly,” yet no detailed records have emerged. Instead, a brief letter from his doctor, Bruce Aronwald, declared Trump’s overall health to be “excellent” following a September 2023 examination. Specifics, however, were not disclosed.
Concerns about Trump’s health aren’t new. In 2020, he was hospitalized after contracting COVID-19 and has previously been considered obese based on a June 2020 health summary. His past records listed his weight at 244 pounds, and his blood pressure was recorded at 121/79. Trump also underwent cognitive tests in the past, though the results were never made public. Despite the lack of current detailed health updates, the former president insists his health is robust.
At 59 years old, Vice President Kamala Harris has also faced scrutiny for not releasing updated medical records. Although Harris tested positive for COVID-19 in April 2022 and recovered after using Paxlovid, no recent comprehensive physical results have been shared with the public. Requests from CBS News for such records have gone unanswered.
Harris did visit Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in July 2021 for a routine checkup, but the details of that appointment remain largely unknown. Since becoming the Democratic nominee just last month, Harris has yet to provide a letter from her physician, a point of surprise among some political observers. While it’s worth noting that Harris is 19 years younger than Trump, political analysts like Matt Dallek suggest that her lack of transparency may hinder her campaign.
In recent decades, presidential candidates have faced increasing pressure to disclose their health status. Since the 1980s, it has become customary for nominees to release at least some medical information to reassure voters of their fitness for office. Both Trump and President Joe Biden made their health records public by this time during the 2020 election cycle.
In contrast, Harris’ delay in sharing her health details is unusual for a candidate of her stature. Dallek acknowledges that the relatively short time Harris has been in the race may be a factor, but he still finds the absence of information concerning. He suggests that even limited details could quell some voter anxiety.
Gene Healy, a political analyst, echoes this sentiment. Healy expresses doubt about the accuracy of health summaries provided by candidates and advocates for independent medical evaluations. He argues that history has shown how many presidents’ true health conditions were obscured while they were in office, leading to public mistrust.
While voters may expect transparency, there is no legal requirement for candidates to release their medical records. The U.S. does not mandate health disclosures from presidential nominees or sitting presidents, leaving it up to the discretion of the candidates themselves.
Democratic Rep. Jamie Raskin has proposed a bill that would require future presidents to undergo independent medical evaluations. This proposal stems from growing concerns about the physical and cognitive abilities of aging leaders. However, the bill has not yet gained significant traction in Congress.
In the absence of a legal obligation, candidates like Trump and Harris may continue to withhold detailed health information. Despite public pressure, both campaigns have remained largely silent on the issue as Election Day approaches.
