Trump's Personal Doctor Keeps Constant Vigil Over President's Health
Donald Trump's physician, Sean Barbabella, is required to stay within three minutes of the president at all times and issues highly positive health assessments.
Sean Barbabella, a former Navy captain who served in Afghanistan, is now the designated physician for Donald Trump and is required to stay no farther than three minutes from the ex-president at all times. In his May 2026 health report, Barbabella highlighted an "AI-enhanced" ECG that suggested Trump's cardiac age is roughly 14 years younger than his chronological age, and he concluded that Trump enjoys excellent physical and cognitive condition.
The doctor also recommended lowering aspirin intake, increasing physical activity, and improving diet, but Trump has publicly downplayed such guidance, insisting he takes a daily aspirin for psychological comfort. Barbabella's upbeat language mirrors earlier statements from former doctors, including Harold Bornstein, who once claimed Trump would be the healthiest president ever elected. The close-quarters medical arrangement mirrors past White House practices, though Barbabella's praise is notably more effusive than that of previous presidential physicians.
Why it matters
It reveals how closely Trump's health is monitored and the optimistic medical narrative presented to the public.
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