Dr. Jonathan Reiner, the cardiologist who treated former Vice President Dick Cheney for 27 years, has questioned the White House’s claims about President Donald Trump’s health. In an opinion article published by The New York Times on August 12, Reiner said Trump has shown visible signs that deserve more explanation, including bruising on his hands, swelling in his legs and moments when he appeared to struggle to stay awake. He stressed that he is not Trump’s doctor and has not diagnosed him, but believes the public should get clearer answers about the president’s health.
What did Jonathan Reiner say about Donald Trump’s health?
Reiner wrote that Trump “has not looked well” at times during the past year, despite repeated statements from the White House that the president is in excellent health.
He pointed to several things visible during Trump’s public appearances. These include bruises on both hands, swelling in his legs and episodes when Trump appeared to have trouble staying awake. Reiner also raised questions about advanced imaging tests that have been carried out on the president.
“I am not Mr. Trump’s doctor, and have only reviewed his records that have been made public,” Reiner wrote. “But Mr. Trump is probably the most photographed president in American history, and a variety of physical ailments are easy to see. He’s had large bruises on both hands, swelling in his legs and episodes when it appears that he is struggling to stay awake. He’s also had advanced imaging performed for unclear reasons. The public is again left to wonder whether the nation’s leader is OK.”
Reiner later rejected the suggestion that he was diagnosing Trump. “I haven’t made any diagnoses,” he said on Thursday. “I simply ask questions.”
{{/usCountry}}Reiner later rejected the suggestion that he was diagnosing Trump. “I haven’t made any diagnoses,” he said on Thursday. “I simply ask questions.”
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What did the White House say about Donald Trump’s health?
The White House pushed back strongly against Reiner’s comments. According to CNN, the administration attacked his credibility and accused him of making political claims about Trump’s health.
The White House described Reiner as “an ass-hat engaging in armchair diagnosis for political purposes” and said he was “a disgrace to the medical profession.” It also defended Trump as “the sharpest, most accessible, and energetic president in American history.”
A separate statement to The Independent accused medical professionals who make “armchair diagnosis or false speculation for political purposes” of breaking the Hippocratic Oath.
The response came after the White House had publicly defended Trump’s health in several medical reports.
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What did Donald Trump’s latest medical report say?
Trump’s most recent publicly released medical report came after his May 2026 examination at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center. Physician to the President Dr. Sean Barbabella said Trump remained in “excellent health” and was “fully fit” to perform his presidential duties. The examination included heart imaging, a CT scan, cancer screenings and other tests involving 22 specialists.
The report did acknowledge some physical issues. It said Trump had slight swelling in his lower legs, which had improved from the previous year. It also described bruising on his hands, which the White House linked to frequent handshaking and aspirin use. Trump also scored 30 out of 30 on the Montreal Cognitive Assessment.
Trump turned 80 in June, making the discussion about his health especially important. There is no law requiring a sitting U.S. president to release full medical records, so the amount of information made public largely depends on what the president and White House choose to disclose.