Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris will release a medical report on Saturday confirming her fitness to serve as president, according to her campaign, in an effort to pressure her opponent, Donald Trump, to disclose his own health records.
An advisor to Harris, 59, stated the report would conclude that “she possesses the physical and mental resilience necessary to fulfill the duties of the presidency.” Harris’s campaign aims to highlight concerns over the health and mental sharpness of 78-year-old Trump, who has yet to provide detailed medical information. Trump became the oldest presidential nominee in US history after 81-year-old President Joe Biden withdrew from the race in July.
Biden passed the leadership mantle to Harris following a poor debate performance against Trump, which raised questions within the Democratic Party about his cognitive abilities.
Despite Trump’s age, his apparent vitality has not hindered his poll performance in the tight race against Harris for the November 5 presidential election.
Harris’s campaign also referenced recent New York Times articles that raised concerns over Trump’s refusal to disclose basic health details. One report analyzed Trump’s speeches, noting they were increasingly lengthy, disjointed, and vulgar, with experts suggesting this might indicate cognitive decline. Although Trump insists he is in good health, he has not provided a comprehensive medical report for his campaign.
In late 2023, Trump released a note from his former White House doctor, stating he was in “excellent” health, but the letter lacked specifics and did not outline what tests he underwent during his physical in September 2023. The same doctor, Ronny Jackson, issued a statement in July after Trump was grazed by a bullet during a rally in Pennsylvania, assuring that Trump was in good condition.
Trump has often boasted about a cognitive test he took with Jackson during his presidency in 2018, but he mistakenly referred to his doctor as “Ronny Johnson” soon after.
If Trump wins the November election, he will be 82 by the end of his second term.