President Trump’s spokeswoman tried to swat down rumors about his health Monday night with a memo from Trump’s doctor saying his trip to Walter Reed hospital over the weekend was a “routine, planned interim checkup.”
Not only that, Trump, 73, had some good health news — his total cholesterol is 165, which according to the Mayo Clinic website is “desirable.”
Press Secretary Stephanie Grisham released a memo from Trump’s doctor, Navy commander Dr. Sean P. Conley, without comment.
“Despite some of the speculation, the President has not had any chest pain, nor was he evaluated or treated for any urgent or acute issues. Specifically, he did not undergo any specialized cardiac or neurologic evaluations,” Conley wrote.
Trump’s trip to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center was “part of the regular, primary preventative care he receives throughout the year,” Conley said. “Due to scheduling uncertainties, the trip was kept off the record.”
Trump’s exam lasted “a little more than an hour,” Conley said. Afterward, his memo said, Trump briefly toured the hospital, visiting with medical staff and the family of a wounded soldier.
Conley said he is planning a “more comprehensive examination” of Trump in 2020, and that he’ll incorporate the results of this weekend’s tests into the report he prepares then.
But the news about Trump’s cholesterol was somehow too good for the White House to keep under wraps.
Conley reported — with Trump’s permission — that besides his total cholesterol level of 165 milligrams per deciliter, Trump has an HDL or “good” cholesterol level of 70 mg. and an LDL or “bad” cholesterol level of 84 mg.
An LDL below 100 is “optimal for people at risk of heart disease,” and an HDL above 60 is “best,” the Mayo Clinic says.
Trump’s unannounced trip to Walter Reed fueled speculation on social media that he had suffered chest pains. Previous presidents have announced their medical checkups in advance, and have given more results than Trump offered.
Among those skeptical was Joe Lockhart, who was a press secretary to Bill Clinton.
“If it was for routine blood tests it could be done at the White House,” Lockhart tweeted. “In fact most medical procedures can be done at the White House where there is a state of the art medical facility. Third, when was the last time you had half your physical on one day, and then went back a month later for the rest.”