Trump prescribed colonoscopy by White House doctors as JD Vance set to briefly assume presidency
WASHINGTON, DC: Donald Trump’s getting a colonoscopy — but not just yet.
The president's doctors have officially penciled one for 2027. When the time comes, Vice President JD Vance is expected to step in briefly while Trump undergoes the procedure.
The recommendation came after Trump’s recent annual physical check-up at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, with the results being released on Sunday morning, April 13, in a three-page medical report from the White House.
While a future colon check is on the books, Trump’s current health is strong across the board, NPR reported.
Donald Trump is physically fit and cognitively sharp, says White House doctor
“President Trump remains in excellent health, exhibiting robust cardiac, pulmonary, neurological, and general physical function,” wrote White House physician Captain Sean Barbabella, who led the physical. He added that Trump “exhibits excellent cognitive and physical health and is fully fit.”
Now 78, Trump is the oldest person ever to be sworn in as president. For comparison, Joe Biden was just a few months younger when he took office — and his noticeably slower pace in the White House stirred up plenty of concern around his cognitive fitness during his term.
Barbabella’s report noted that Trump has “well-controlled” high cholesterol, along with a few chronic or historical issues, including rosacea, diverticulosis, pre-cancerous skin lesions, a benign colon polyp, and a past COVID-19 infection. But none of it seems to be affecting his performance now.
Post-assassination attempt health update
This is the first full health report since the July 2024 assassination attempt in Butler, Pennsylvania. Sean Barbabella noted “scarring on the right ear” where the bullet grazed Donald Trump.
After the incident, Trump’s former doctor—now Texas Congressman Ronny Jackson—released a short memo saying Trump “is doing well, and he is recovering as expected.” Jackson also said Trump received a CT of his head and was scheduled for a hearing exam — results of which are now included in the official report.
Trump has shed about 20 pounds since his last detailed report in 2020, weighing in now at 224 pounds. His “bad” LDL cholesterol is also looking good, now in the “optimal” range, thanks to two medications: rosuvastatin, which he’s been on, and ezetimibe, a new addition not mentioned in his 2020 health files.
As for vaccines, the report simply says Trump is “current” on them, without listing which ones.
Donald Trump declares he aced cognitive test again
On Friday, April 11, Donald Trump didn’t miss a beat in telling reporters how his tests went: “I took a cognitive test. And I don't know what to tell you, other than I got every answer right.”
He added, “I took just a lot of different tests, having to do with the heart, having to do with other things.”
Barbabella backed it up, reporting that Trump’s neurological exam showed “no abnormalities in his mental status". He was evaluated for cognitive function, depression, and anxiety and scored within the normal range in all categories.
Trump’s active schedule also got a shout-out. The physician noted that the president maintains an “active lifestyle,” which includes “multiple meetings, public appearances, press availability, and frequent victories in golf events.”
Unlike many presidents, Trump’s been more open with his health details. In 2023, he released a short letter noting weight loss and “exceptional” cognitive results but skipped the full breakdown. Meanwhile, Biden’s doctors chose not to administer a cognitive test in his final year — which did not go unnoticed.
Back in 2018, Dr Ronny Jackson famously declared that Trump had “great genes” and claimed that if he ate better, “he might live to be 200 years old". Even then, Jackson advised Trump to dial back the fat and carbs.
