Is Trump hiding his health issues? Poll shows majority skeptical of US President's transparency
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President Donald Trump is not being transparent about his health nearly half of Americans believe, according to a new poll. A recent YouGov/Economist poll conducted from May 23 to 26 among 1,660 adults revealed that 45% of respondents felt Donald Trump has been "not at all" or "not very" transparent about his health, while 42% believed he had been more forthcoming. The poll carries a margin of error of ±3.2 percentage points, reported NewsWeek.These results underscore a key challenge for Trump as he seeks to maintain public trust amid ongoing scrutiny of his health.At 78 years and seven months, Trump was the oldest person ever inaugurated as US president. His election followed a campaign marked by concerns over the age and health of the candidates. Questions about Trump's physical and mental condition have persisted, particularly given a family history of dementia. Nonetheless, the White House physician stated in April that Trump is in "excellent cognitive and physical health."The poll also found mixed public perceptions of Trump's fitness for office: 31% said his age and health severely impair his ability to serve, 30% believed they had little impact, and 29% felt they had no impact at all.Furthermore, 62% of respondents said presidents should publicly release all medical information relevant to their ability to serve, while 28% argued that presidents should retain the same privacy rights as any other citizen regarding their health records.Donald Trump is in "excellent cognitive and physical health", his White House physician said in April. In the first annual physical of his second presidential term at a Washington DC-area hospital, Trump was also found to have scarring "on the right ear from a gunshot wound", after an assassination attempt last July."President Trump remains in excellent health, exhibiting robust cardiac, pulmonary, neurological, and general physical function," his doctor, Captain Sean Barbabella, said in a memo. "President Trump exhibits excellent cognitive and physical health and is fully fit to execute the duties of the Commander-in-Chief and Head of State," Dr Barbabella wrote in the memo.Dr. Barbabella reported that Trump has 'minor sun damage' and a few 'benign skin lesions.'According to the memo, the former president is taking several medications to manage his health: Rosuvastatin and Ezetimibe for cholesterol, Aspirin for heart disease prevention, and Mometasone cream for a skin condition.His cardiac evaluation revealed no abnormalities, Dr. Barbabella noted.The report also referenced a history of well-managed hypercholesterolemia, a condition that can elevate the risk of heart attack. Additional medical history included a previous COVID-19 infection, rosacea—a skin condition that often causes facial redness—and a benign colon polyp.Dr. Barbabella's records list Trump's weight at 224 pounds (101 kg) and his height at 6 feet 2.5 inches. This marks a weight loss since February 2019, when he weighed 243 pounds.Former President Joe Biden, 82, recently revealed he had been diagnosed with aggressive prostate cancer, reigniting concerns over transparency regarding his health.A survey found that 61 percent of respondents felt Biden had not been open about his medical condition, while only 31 percent believed he had been forthcoming.Biden withdrew from the 2024 presidential race after a debate performance that intensified public concerns about his health and cognitive abilities. Just months earlier, in February 2024, his physician at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center had declared him "fit to serve" following a routine physical. Despite this, Biden and his campaign downplayed questions about his mental sharpness after the debate. The perception of a lack of transparency grew, with 57 percent of those surveyed believing that Democrats intentionally withheld information about his health while he was in office.During an Oval Office press briefing last week, Trump criticized Biden's former medical team, suggesting they withheld critical health information from the public, and labeled the situation as "dangerous for our country.""I think somebody is going to have to speak to his doctor if it's the same, or even if it's two separate doctors," Trump said. "Why wasn't the cognitive ability, why wasn't that discussed? And I think the doctor said he's just fine. And it's turned out that's not so. It's very dangerous."
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