By Tony Bruce | Saturday, October 12, 2024 | 5 min read
With the presidential election just days away, questions about the physical and mental fitness of candidates have taken center stage. The recent announcement from Vice President Kamala Harris’s campaign, stating that she will release a detailed medical report attesting to her “physical and mental resiliency,” highlights the importance of transparency in matters of health for those seeking the highest office in the land. As Harris takes this proactive step, it is time for Donald J. Trump to do the same by releasing his full health records, including those controversially taken from his longtime physician, Dr. Harold Nelson Bornstein.
Donald Trump has a long and complicated history regarding his medical records. Dr. Harold Nelson Bornstein, a gastroenterologist who served as Trump’s personal physician from 1980 until early 2018, was well-known for his eccentricity and his unconventional approach to public disclosures about the president’s health. Before then, Bornstein’s father was his personal physician. In a widely publicized incident in 2018, Dr. Bornstein claimed that Trump’s bodyguard, a lawyer, and a third person had entered his office and taken all of Trump’s medical records without consent. The episode occurred shortly after Bornstein had made statements about Trump’s health that were less than flattering.
The removal of these records raised significant questions about what Trump was trying to hide. Medical records are considered highly confidential, and any forced removal of such documents by a patient—particularly someone who holds the office of president—raises concerns about the motive behind it. With a history of secrecy surrounding his health, Trump’s refusal to be fully transparent only fuels speculation about his physical condition and mental acuity.
The vice president’s decision to release a comprehensive health report, just 24 days before the election, reflects a commitment to openness. By providing the public with detailed information about her health, Harris is setting a standard for transparency and accountability that all candidates, including Trump, should meet. This is especially relevant given Trump’s age—78 years old—and his history of health-related controversies.
Democratic campaign operatives hope that Harris’s release of her medical records will shift public attention toward Trump’s health, emphasizing the need for voters to scrutinize his physical condition and mental sharpness. Trump’s recent behavior, including his controversial statements, frequent misinformation, and reluctance to follow traditional norms, has already led to questions about his fitness to serve. The release of his health records would help clarify whether those concerns are rooted in any medical realities.
Trump’s handling of his health records has not just been marked by the incident with Dr. Bornstein. There have been other events that contribute to the perception of secrecy. In 2019, Trump made an unscheduled visit to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, raising speculation about a potential health issue. The White House provided limited information, dismissing the visit as part of a routine check-up, but the unplanned nature of the trip raised doubts about that explanation.
Moreover, Trump’s response to contracting COVID-19 in 2020 was shrouded in ambiguity. The extent of his symptoms, the timeline of his diagnosis, and the details of his treatment were inconsistently disclosed. He downplayed the virus while receiving experimental treatments, which most Americans did not have access to. The inconsistencies in how information was shared at that time further eroded public trust.
Given this history, a full release of Trump’s medical records would provide transparency and allow the public to evaluate his fitness for office with complete information.
At a time when the world is facing significant challenges, from global conflicts to economic instability and public health crises, the American people deserve to know whether their president is physically and mentally capable of meeting the demands of the job. The role of president requires an immense level of stamina, cognitive function, and resilience—qualities that are critical for making sound decisions under pressure.
Medical fitness is not simply a personal matter when it comes to someone seeking the highest office in the land. Voters need assurance that the person they are electing to lead the country is not hiding any medical conditions that could impair their ability to serve. While candidates’ privacy rights should be respected, the expectation of transparency is higher for individuals in positions of significant power and public trust.
Kamala Harris’s proactive disclosure of her health report sets an example that Trump should follow. If he is indeed healthy, there should be no issue in providing the American public with the same level of transparency. Given the history of missing records, mysterious Walter Reed visits, and inconsistent disclosures during his battle with COVID-19, the need for openness is even more pressing.
The removal of records from Dr. Bornstein’s office in 2018 remains a troubling and unresolved issue. Those documents could provide valuable insight into Trump’s health over decades, and their absence raises doubts about what might be hidden. If Trump wishes to dispel concerns about his physical and mental fitness, the path forward is clear: he must release his health records, including those controversially taken from Dr. Bornstein.
The release of Harris’s medical report is not just a campaign strategy; it is a statement of accountability. The American people have the right to know the truth about the health of their leaders. As Election Day approaches, the contrast between the candidates’ approaches to transparency has never been starker. By following Harris’s lead, Trump can show that he values the trust of the voters and is willing to meet the same standard of openness.
In a democracy, accountability should not be optional, and transparency should not be negotiable. For a president who claims to put America first, Donald Trump should start by putting Americans’ right to know ahead of his own desire for secrecy.
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