Trump claims ‘perfect’ medical checkup and cognitive test, White House says he referred to May exam

The social media post

On Saturday, July 11, Donald Trump posted on Truth Social that he had “just completed a perfect medical checkup at Walter Reed” and had requested another cognitive test, asserting he is the only president to have done so, three times, and passed each one with flying colors.

I just completed a perfect medical checkup at Walter Reed, I do it every six months, and I requested another cognitive test — I’m the only president who has done this, three times — and I passed them all with flying colors: I answered every question correctly.

Within hours, the White House clarified that Trump, who turned 80 on June 14, was referencing the routine examination he underwent at the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center at the end of May 2026. At that time, the administration had described his health as “excellent.”

The ‘Regime Change’ book

Trump’s remarks were part of a social media post attacking New York Times reporters Maggie Haberman and Jonathan Swan, co-authors of the recently published book “Regime Change: Inside the Imperial Presidency of Donald Trump.” The book describes concerns raised by White House advisers about the president’s age, stamina, and physical condition. The publication has reignited a long-running public dispute between Trump and the newspaper, with the president repeatedly dismissing similar reports.

Health scrutiny and age debate

The renewed focus on Trump’s health has been accompanied by observations about his public schedule. A report last year by journalist Katie Rogers noted that the number of Trump’s public appearances was lower than at the same point in his first term, that he began official activities later in the day, and that he made fewer domestic trips. The White House also confirmed last year that Trump has chronic venous insufficiency, a condition common among older people, after he was seen in public with swollen ankles and a visible bruise on one hand. Officials said it does not affect his ability to perform his duties.

Trump is the oldest person ever to assume the US presidency. He was 78 at his January 2025 inauguration, five months older than Joe Biden was in 2021. Questions about the health and mental fitness of elderly leaders have become a recurring theme in Washington; concerns over Biden’s cognitive abilities ultimately led him to end his 2024 re-election campaign. Trump has frequently boasted about perfect scores on cognitive tests, but critics point to public gaffes, including calling Japan an “Islamic republic” and saying he launched 111 missiles toward it, as well as repeatedly stating that Iran and Qatar share a land border. Supporters dismiss such errors as intentional strategy.