Day 1,031: Trump had a weird medical thing that the White House is being coy about

The health of a president is a matter of national importance. Whether it’s physical or mental, the ramifications can be massive for a litany of reasons. That makes how the White House has treated Saturday so odd.

Donald Trump made a sudden trip to Walter Reed National Medical Center on Saturday. The White House couched the visit as one to “begin portions of his routine annual physical,” but that doesn’t necessarily pass the smell test.

First, White House spokespeople have been woefully unreliable over the past three years, lying about things big and small. They haven’t earned the benefit of the doubt on anything they say.

Next, “annual” implies once per year, but Trump’s most recent physical was only nine months ago. It’s strange, if not suspicious, that he would have some routine tests done now, especially when many of them could occur at the White House.

Finally, unlike his previous physicals since being elected, this one wasn’t on any Trump schedule before he made the trip. The press was kept in the dark until the last minute too.

While private citizens are entitled to privacy when it comes to health issues, a president shouldn’t qualify for the same protections. Their health has potential national security considerations for hundreds of millions of Americans.

For that reason, transparency on this issue is paramount. Right now, however, the White House is being opaque.

1,031 days in, 431 to go

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