Trump health report due following past controversies over medical transparency (2025)

There have previously been claims that Trump dictated a previous glowing medical letter and reports of recent significant weight loss.

Donald Trump’s latest medical assessment is expected to be released today and questions have been raised about what the report will contain in light of past controversies involving his health disclosures.

Taking to social media, the 78-year-old Republican, now the oldest person in U.S. history to hold office for a second term, wrote: “I have never felt better, but nevertheless, these things must be done!”

Trump, who first assumed the presidency at age 70, has long faced criticism over the lack of transparency surrounding his health. Despite promising in August 2024 to release findings from a recent exam, he has not published substantial medical data since 2015, reports the Mirror.

While there is no legal requirement for presidents to share their medical records, it is generally expected that U.S. leaders demonstrate their physical and mental fitness for the role.

Trump, however, has consistently kept such details guarded, even while routinely mocking his political rival, President Joe Biden, over matters of health—famously dubbing him “Sleepy Joe.”

In 2015, ahead of his first campaign, Trump released a letter from his doctor, Dr. Harold N. Bornstein, who praised the then-candidate’s health as “astonishingly excellent” and described his “extraordinary” stamina and strength.

Dr. Bornstein wrote: “To Whom My Concern: I have been the personal physician of Mr Donald J. Trump since 1980. His previous physician was my father, Dr Jacob Bornstein. Over the past 39 years, I am pleased to report that Mr Trump has had no significant medical problems.

"Mr Trump has had a recent complete medical examination that showed only positive results. Actually, his blood pressure, 110/65, and laboratory test results were astonishingly excellent. Over the past twelve months, he has lost at least fifteen pounds, Mr Trump takes 81 mg of aspirin daily and a low dose of a statin. His PSA test score is 0.15 (very low). His physical strength and stamina are extraordinary.”

The letter concluded: “Mr Trump has suffered no form of cancer, has never had a hip, knee or shoulder replacement or any other orthopaedic surgery. His only surgery was an appendectomy at age ten. His cardiovascular status is excellent. He has no history of ever using alcohol or tobacco products. If elected, Mr Trump, I can state unequivocally, will be the healthiest individual ever elected to the presidency.”

However, in 2018, Dr. Bornstein revealed that Trump had dictated the letter himself. In an interview with CNN, the physician claimed: “He dictated that whole letter. I didn't write that letter. I just made it up as I went along.” Describing the experience as “like the movie ‘Fargo’: It takes the truth and moves it in a different direction,” Bornstein said the letter had been written in just five minutes. The White House did not publicly respond to his claims.

In a separate interview with NBC News, Dr. Bornstein alleged that Trump’s bodyguard, Keith Schiller, and two other men took part in what he described as a “raid” on his office in February 2017 to seize the president’s medical records. Bornstein, who had treated Trump for over 35 years, said the encounter left him feeling “raped, frightened and sad,” adding: “They must have been here for 25 or 30 minutes, it created a lot of chaos.” According to him, the group left with the only copies of Trump’s charts and lab results.

In response, then-White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders denied that the incident constituted a raid, describing it instead as “standard procedure” for the White House Medical Unit to obtain a president’s records.

Later in 2018, White House physician Dr. Ronny Jackson declared Trump to be in “excellent health” following his first official physical exam as president. Addressing concerns about Trump’s mental acuity, Jackson stated there was “no indication” of “any cognitive issues” and credited Trump’s well-being to genetics: “It’s called genetics. Some people just have great genes. I told the president if he had a healthier diet over the last 20 years he might live to be 200.”

Dr. Jackson also recommended improved dietary habits and more regular exercise for Trump, who is known for indulging in fast food, including McDonald’s, and has a fondness for ice cream.

More recently, observers have noted a noticeable weight loss in Trump. Images taken earlier this month as he boarded Marine One show a leaner figure, and some reports suggest he has lost around 30 pounds since 2022. Though the weight loss has been attributed to healthier eating, experts have raised concerns.

Dr. Daniel Atkinson, clinical lead at Treated.com, shared his view with the Irish Star .

He said: “For a hypothetical person, who has taken on the office of President of the United States for a second term, at the age of 80, there might be several factors that could affect their weight. "An almost 80-year-old with a busy schedule might be more susceptible to certain conditions that can cause weight loss. "Diabetes, for instance, can trigger weight fluctuations when the condition is uncontrolled. Blood sugar can become more difficult to regulate as we age, and insulin resistance can develop with age.”

There is no indication that President Trump has diabetes, and the White House has not commented publicly on his recent weight changes.