A medical report on the health of Vice President Kamala Harris has been released less than a month before the presidential election. According to a letter from her doctor, Harris is described as being in “excellent health” and possessing the “physical and mental resiliency” required to serve as president. Dr. Joshua Simmons, a US Army colonel and physician to the vice president, stated that Harris, aged 59, maintains a healthy and active lifestyle, with her most recent physical examination in April being “unremarkable.”
In the two-page letter, Dr. Simmons wrote, “She possesses the physical and mental resiliency required to successfully execute the duties of the Presidency, to include those as Chief Executive, Head of State and Commander in Chief.” The release of Harris’s medical report aims to draw a contrast with former President Donald Trump, 78, who has provided limited information about his health over the years, raising concerns about his fitness for office in terms of both physical health and mental acuity.
Former New Jersey governor Chris Christie recently expressed worries about Trump’s “significant” mental decline. However, in response to Harris’s medical report, Steven Cheung, Trump’s campaign communications director, highlighted that President Trump has shared updates from his personal physician and Dr. Ronny Jackson, who treated him after an assassination attempt. The statement emphasized that all reports have concluded Trump is in excellent health to serve as Commander in Chief.
Mentioned alongside the statement were two letters from Rep. Jackson, Trump’s former physician, concerning an injury to the former president’s ear following the assassination attempt and a letter from Trump’s current doctor dated November 20, 2023, reporting him as being in “excellent” physical and mental health. While Trump had raised concerns about Biden’s health during his campaign, the focus has now shifted to Trump’s health as he campaigns for reelection.
The 2023 letter from Trump’s doctor lacked details such as weight, blood pressure, cholesterol levels, or test results to support its claims. In contrast, Harris’s medical report provides thorough information about her health and medical history, including details about allergies, urticaria, corrective lenses for nearsightedness, family medical history, and adherence to preventive care recommendations.
The report also mentions that the vice president is up to date on preventive care measures such as colonoscopy and annual mammograms. Dr. Simmons highlighted Harris’s healthy lifestyle and detailed her recent blood work and test results as being “unremarkable.” As the presidential election approaches, the focus on the candidates’ health and fitness for office continues to be a topic of discussion.
With reporting from the Associated Press.