US President Joe Biden is, at 80, “in good health”, “vigorous” and “fit” to perform his duties, according to the medical report drawn up by his doctor and made public Thursday by the White House. The American president went at the beginning of the day to the Walter Reed military hospital, in the suburbs of Washington, where he spent nearly three hours to carry out the last examinations of this balance sheet. The practitioner, who conducted a series of examinations, including in particular “an extremely detailed neurological examination”, only notes that a “lesion” was removed from the president’s chest and will be biopsied.
But for the rest, Joe Biden, the oldest president in American history, has only minor ailments, treated with three prescription drugs, detailed the doctor. The Democrat is thus being treated for “non-valvular atrial fibrillation”, a heart condition which is “stable” after treatment; high blood lipids also successfully corrected by treatment; and allergies. For the rest, no change either: the President of the United States is 1m83 tall for 81 kg, wears contact lenses, does not smoke or drink, and plays sports five times a week. This document was obviously eagerly awaited.
Joe Biden, despite lackluster polls, has been repeating for some time that he “intends” to run, and therefore perhaps face his predecessor Donald Trump, already officially in the race. But he assured, just a few days ago, that he had not made a “final” decision. On November 19, 2021, the Democrat, who also wants this transparency on his health to distinguish himself from the former Republican president, had already submitted to a complete examination.
Joe Biden had undergone a colonoscopy that day, under general anesthesia. He had transferred his powers for an hour and twenty-five minutes to Vice President Kamala Harris, who briefly became the first woman to hold presidential prerogatives in United States history.
“Watch me at work! »
The doctor, Kevin O’Connor, had painted a portrait of a man “in good health”, “vigorous” and “able” to fulfill his heavy duty. But he had also taken on the burden of age, with its share of medications to take and minor ailments. The practitioner had noted Joe Biden’s stiffer gait, attributing it to a “mild” nerve condition affecting his feet. He had also reported a frequent cough, caused by gastroesophageal reflux.
Joe Biden does not smoke, drink, play sports, and has had no major health concerns since undergoing brain surgery in 1988. He tested positive for Covid-19 last July without presenting any symptoms. serious form of the disease. The American president has so far shown an endurance unusual for his age, linking public interventions and trips.
But his age is a frequent angle of attack from the Republican opposition. Some opponents of the president even assure that he would no longer have all his head, given certain moments of confusion and his slurred speech. Nikki Haley, a 51-year-old Republican who has just entered the race for 2024, called for intellectual aptitude tests on Wednesday for any elected official over 75. This would also apply to Donald Trump, 76, whom she challenges with her candidacy.
The former ambassador to the UN hopes to capitalize on a desire for renewal among the American electorate, which according to the polls does not want a second term for Biden more than a new Trump presidency. If he does, Joe Biden will face both the rigors of an election campaign and the demands of his office. So far, he answers questions about his age with jokes, or with this pirouette: “Watch me at work! “.