White House physician Dr. Sean Conley asserted in a statement that President Donald Trump‘s trip to Walter Reed medical center was not a result of mini-strokes.
The president “has not experienced nor been evaluated for” any strokes, mini-strokes or critical cardiovascular issues, Conley said.
“The President remains healthy and I have no concerns about his ability to maintain the rigorous schedule ahead of him,” Conley said. “As stated in my last report, I expect him to remain fit to execute the duties of the Presidency.”
The statement came after Trump on Tuesday called the idea that he suffered a “series of mini-strokes” “FAKE NEWS.”
“It never ends! Now they are trying to say that your favorite President, me, went to Walter Reed Medical Center, having suffered a series of mini-strokes. Never happened to THIS candidate – FAKE NEWS,” he tweeted. “Perhaps they are referring to another candidate from another Party!”
Although New York Times reporter Michael Schmidt wrote in his newly-released book, Donald Trump V. The United States: Inside the Struggle to Stop a President, that Trump’s trip to the medical facility prompted “the vice president to be on standby to take over the powers of the presidency temporarily if Trump had to undergo a procedure that would have required him to be anesthetized,” he did not use the wording “mini strokes,” nor did any major news outlet report or verify that had occurred.
After CNN first published an article highlighting Schmidt’s claims Vice President Mike Pence was put on “standby” during Trump’s medical visit, Trump lambasted CNN as “Fake News.”
“Mike Pence was never put on standby, & there were no mini-strokes,” the president wrote. “This is just more Fake News by CNN, a phony story. The reason for the visit Walter Reed, together with the full press pool, was to complete my yearly physical.”
Pence told Fox News Tuesday that “there was nothing out of the ordinary” about the visit and he didn’t recall being specifically placed on “standby.”
“I’m always informed of the President’s movements – whether it was on that day or any other day, I’m informed,” he said. “But there was no, there was nothing out of the ordinary about that moment or that day.”
Pence added: “I don’t recall being told to be on standby. I was informed that the President had a doctor’s appointment,” noting that “part of this job is you’re always on standby, you’re vice president of the United States.”
The weekend visit in November 2019 was billed by White House press secretary Stephanie Grisham as part of his annual physical.
However, according to CNN, the medical staff did not receive advance notice of Trump’s arrival – standard protocol for “VIP” routine visits. Additionally, the visit was not noted ahead of time on any White House schedule.
