In the latest chapter of the 2024 presidential race, former President Donald Trump’s campaign has taken a direct swipe at Vice President Kamala Harris, questioning her stamina and ability to maintain a rigorous campaign schedule following the release of her medical report.
Trump’s team, led by communications director Steven Cheung, alleged that Harris’s campaign activities are considerably lighter than Trump’s, attributing this to what they describe as her lack of physical stamina, Yahoo.com.
Cheung’s statement was pointed, claiming, “President Trump has maintained an extremely busy and active campaign schedule unlike any other in political history, whereas Kamala Harris has been unable to keep up with the demands of campaigning.” He added, “Her schedule is much lighter because, it is said, she does not have the stamina of President Trump.”
This critique followed the release of Harris’s medical history on Saturday, which her physician, Dr. Joshua R. Simmons, described as being “in excellent health.”
The report, part of a routine physical exam conducted in April 2024, stated that the vice president is a “healthy 59-year-old female with a medical history notable for seasonal allergies and urticaria.” It also revealed that Harris wears contact lenses but overall possesses the physical and mental capabilities required to serve in the highest office.
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Despite the clean bill of health, Trump’s campaign was quick to cast doubts on Harris’s fitness, contrasting her lighter campaign schedule with Trump’s more physically demanding agenda. “Polls are reflective of this,” Cheung asserted, referring to Trump’s continued dominance in the GOP primary polls, while insinuating that Harris’s lighter schedule is tied to her inability to physically handle the demands of the campaign trail.
Notably, Trump’s team boasted of the former president’s health, though he has yet to release updated personal medical records himself.
Cheung pointed to previous health assessments, including one from Dr. Ronny Jackson, a former White House physician and now a congressman from Texas, who treated Trump in the past. According to Cheung, these reports concluded that Trump, despite being 78 years old, is in “perfect and excellent health to be Commander in Chief.”
The former president, who has long made his physical stamina and energy a central part of his campaign narrative, told CBS News in an August interview that he would “very gladly” release his medical records. However, as of now, Trump has not provided any updated reports for 2024.
In the Saturday campaign statement, Cheung attached three links to letters from medical professionals, two from Dr. Jackson and one from a personal physician, all attesting to Trump’s “excellent” overall health.
This exchange over health records and stamina is just the latest in a long history of candidates’ health becoming a focal point in presidential campaigns. Historically, physical fitness for office has been a subject of scrutiny for older candidates, and with both Trump and President Joe Biden in their late 70s and 80s respectively, voters have shown interest in the health and vitality of the next commander-in-chief.
Harris, as the Democratic vice-presidential nominee, stands as a potential successor to President Biden, should he win re-election. As such, her health has come under particular scrutiny, especially with Biden’s age being a topic of frequent discussion. Harris’s medical report provides a comprehensive overview of her fitness, but Trump’s campaign appears keen to keep the focus on the physical demands of the presidency and whether Harris, in their view, can handle the intensity.
The issue of health is bound to remain a central talking point as the 2024 race heats up, especially with the candidates continuing to tour the country in the coming months. As the election nears, the candidates’ health, schedules, and ability to handle the pressures of the presidency will likely remain a topic of debate, particularly as voters weigh their choices between two very different tickets.
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In the meantime, the Trump campaign’s jab at Harris underscores a broader strategy of portraying the former president as a physically fit, energetic leader capable of handling the rigors of the job.
By questioning Harris’s campaign schedule and stamina, Trump’s team is clearly aiming to draw a contrast and capitalize on any perceived vulnerabilities among the Democratic nominees.
Ultimately, with both candidates receiving clean bills of health from their respective physicians, it is likely that health will remain an undercurrent in the political discourse—particularly as voters look for reassurance that their next president can handle the immense physical and mental toll that comes with leading the country.