The White House announced earlier this month that Trump, who turns 80 on June 14, would undergo his annual, routine medical and dental examination on Tuesday at the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center “as part of his regular preventive healthcare.” “The president will also spend time with service members and staff at Walter Reed in recognition of their service, professionalism, and dedication to the nation,” the White House told reporters.
The trip prompts questions about Trump’s health amid memes of the president “sleeping” during public events and speculation regarding the bruising on his hands, both of which Trump and his aides dispute.
But after former President Joe Biden‘s aides covered up Biden’s physical and mental decline, even Democrats concede Trump and the White House are operating in a political environment where the bar for concern surrounding an aging president has been dramatically lowered.
“Yes, the Biden camp’s hiding or downplaying his alarming physical and mental decline has set a very bad precedent for transparency and honesty about a president’s health,” Democratic strategist Garry South told the Washington Examiner.
A second Democratic strategist, Jim Manley, acknowledged that “Team Biden — and the media — failed the American people when it came to Biden’s health,” with Manley reiterating that “the media coverage was miserable.”
