Trump medical examination renews health scrutiny as 80th birthday nears

The US president, 80 on June 14, will soon attend his fourth publicly disclosed doctor’s appointment since his second term began

President Donald Trump’s upcoming medical examination is intensifying health-related scrutiny that has surrounded him ever since his first campaign for the nation’s highest office more than a decade ago.

Trump on Tuesday is heading to Walter Reed National Military Medical Centre for his fourth publicly disclosed doctor’s appointment since the start of his second term.

The White House has offered few details about the visit, saying it would involve “routine annual dental and medical assessments”.

Yet the nature of the May 11 announcement prompted more questions about Trump’s well-being.

It will be his third known meeting with a dentist this year, more than the biannual check-ups typical for most Americans, and follows three doctors’ visits last year.

The moment also shines a spotlight on Trump’s age, as he turns 80 next month. It is coming at a challenging political time for a president set on projecting vigour and strength.

The US is bogged down in an intractable conflict with Iran, which has wreaked havoc on the global economy.