On October 18, 2024, former U.S. President and Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump addressed the media upon his arrival at Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport in Detroit, Michigan. Trump dismissed inquiries about the release of his current medical records, maintaining his refusal to provide a health update, despite efforts by Kamala Harris to cast doubt on his fitness for the presidency.
When questioned about disclosing his health records, the 78-year-old Republican nominee indicated that he had already provided sufficient details about his medical status, stating, “Yeah, my health records – I’ve done five exams over the last four years. You’ve got them all.” He further suggested that his focus was on his campaign against Vice President Harris, the Democratic nominee, rather than updating his records. Trump asserted, “Obviously, I’m in the middle of a very big and very contentious fight. We’re leading. I’ve given my health exams.”
Trump also mentioned having completed cognitive tests twice, emphasizing his perfect scores, and challenged Harris to take a cognitive test. The Trump campaign did not respond to requests for further comments on his statements in Michigan.
Previously, Trump told CBS News in August that he would “very gladly” release his medical records, although his campaign has yet to do so. In contrast, Harris, who will soon turn 60, publicly shared a detailed health report from her White House doctor on October 12. The same day, Trump campaign spokesman Steven Cheung claimed that Trump had “voluntarily released” multiple health reports, referencing a letter from Dr. Bruce Aronwald and memos by Republican Rep. Ronny Jackson regarding an injury Trump sustained during an assassination attempt at a campaign rally.
Harris has intensified her criticism of Trump’s reluctance to release a comprehensive health report and his decision not to participate in a second debate. During a rally in North Carolina, she questioned why Trump’s staff wanted him to avoid public scrutiny, suggesting concerns about his stability and strength to lead the country. Harris also pointed out a Politico report about a Trump advisor mentioning his exhaustion as a reason for withdrawing from an interview.
In recent weeks leading up to Election Day, Trump canceled several interviews, including one with CNBC. Harris questioned his capability to handle the presidency given his campaign trail commitments.
Harris has also raised concerns about Trump’s mental fitness in interviews, calling him “unfit to serve,” “unstable,” and “dangerous.” Additionally, she critiqued his conduct at a recent town hall event near Philadelphia, where Trump opted to listen to music instead of engaging in a planned question-and-answer session after medical emergencies caused disruptions. Harris’ social media commented dryly on the event: “Hope he’s okay.”
