Donald Trump‘s health is again under scrutiny amid fears he is gaining too much weight, with his own physicians even advising him to eat healthier.
This comes after former VP Dick Cheney’s cardiologist, Dr. Jonathan Reiner, identified the president’s apparent difficulty staying awake during public events as the most unusual among his reported health concerns.
Reiner’s comments came after Donald Trump was seen appearing to doze off during White House events, renewing questions about his health and physical fitness.
5Trump is facing scrutiny over his health, especially his weight gain, with White House physicians reportedly urging the 80-year-old president to improve his diet and ramp up his physical activity.
Outside doctors have also raised alarm about the politician’s expanding waistline. Dr. Scott Kahan, the director for the National Center for Weight and Wellness, told the Washington Post, “We know that obesity is a strong risk factor for numerous health issues — as well as premature disability and death.”
He added, “Addressing obesity to protect the president’s health should be a priority similar to ensuring Secret Service protections for his life.”
The worry comes after official records revealed that the president weighed 238 pounds in May 2026. In April 2025, he was listed in an official report as weighing 224 pounds, meaning he has gained 14 pounds in just a year.
With that steady weight increase, the commander-in-chief is now sitting just 1.6 pounds away from being clinically classified as “obese,” per the Irish Star.
Despite the warnings, Trump remains completely defiant about his infamous love for McDonald’s and fast food.
During a recent Oval Office appearance, he defended his lifestyle by joking that “maybe junk food is good and the other food is no good.”
He added that he knows many people who constantly watch their weight only to kick the bucket, declaring, “I feel great.”
5Aside from his weight gain, Trump’s sleepiness has also become a major cause for concern.
Appearing on CNN’s “The Lead” with Jake Tapper, Reiner suggested that Trump’s tendency to fall asleep in public was notable even among other health issues supposedly associated with the president.
“That really is the most extraordinary thing,” Reiner started. “The president is a well-known night owl, and that’s not new,” the doctor stated, suggesting that the president’s sleep spells are rather unusual.
Per the doctor, Trump has appeared to have difficulty staying awake during meetings and public appearances, sometimes while other people are actively speaking to him.
“We’ve never seen a president of the United States fall asleep in the Oval Office, as other people are talking to him,” Reiner said, adding that similar episodes had occurred in the Cabinet Room and other meetings.
The remarks followed footage of Trump appearing drowsy during an Oval Office event concerning vaccines. The 80-year-old president seemed to have repeatedly closed his eyes while seated behind the Resolute Desk.
Donald Trump’s Doctors Have Described Him As Being In Excellent Health
5The concerns raised by Reiner contrast with the official assessment released by Trump’s medical team.
As reported by the BBC, following a comprehensive physical examination in May, White House physician Capt. Sean Barbabella said Trump remained in “excellent health,” citing that the president had strong cardiac, pulmonary, neurological, and overall physical function.
The White House published the physician’s memorandum on May 29.
Trump also visited Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in the same month. After the examination, he declared on Truth Social that “everything checked out perfectly.”
The president publicly revealed he was undergoing repeated cognitive testing. In July, he said he had completed another physical and claimed he had “aced” a cognitive assessment.
Dr. Reiner Raises Questions About Other Visible Symptoms
5The cardiologist’s concerns are not limited to Trump’s apparent daytime sleepiness. As reported by The Independent, Reiner pointed out several physical observations involving the president, including bruising on both hands and swelling in his legs.
Reiner questioned why the president’s leg swelling was deemed to be caused by chronic venous insufficiency, considering an earlier examination had reportedly found no swelling in the president’s legs.
The doctor said, “If that’s true, his swelling would be by definition acute, not chronic,” which, according to the professional, is a “potentially much more consequential finding.” He questioned the reason for the discrepancy.
Reiner emphasized that his observations were based on information available publicly rather than confidential medical records. He said he had never examined Trump and had no access to undisclosed medical information.
White House Pushes Back As Conversations Surrounding The President’s Health Continue
5The White House has rejected Reiner’s concerns, defending Trump’s fitness and ability to carry out his duties as a sitting president.
Karoline Leavitt, the former White House press secretary, attributed the bruises seen on the 80-year-old’s hands to constant handshakes and greetings with people around the world.
White House spokesman Davis Ingle reportedly said, “If it quacks like a duck, it may actually just be a democrat hack doctor,” he continued, saying, “President Trump is the sharpest, most accessible, and most energetic president in American history.”
The spokesman added that “any so-called medical professionals engaging in armchair diagnosis or false speculation for political purposes are clearly breaking the Hippocratic Oath they’ve sworn to.”
The publicly available information concerning the president presents two competing elements: Trump’s doctors have described him as being in excellent health; on the other hand, Reiner and other commentators have questioned visible changes in his physical condition and daytime alertness.
No public medical evidence has established that Trump’s episodes of sleepiness are caused by a specific disease.
