With Medical Report Harris Seeks to Play Health Card against Trump

US Vice President and Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris steps off Air Force Two as she arrives in Phoenix, Arizona - AFP
US Vice President and Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris steps off Air Force Two as she arrives in Phoenix, Arizona - AFP
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With Medical Report Harris Seeks to Play Health Card against Trump

US Vice President and Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris steps off Air Force Two as she arrives in Phoenix, Arizona - AFP
US Vice President and Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris steps off Air Force Two as she arrives in Phoenix, Arizona - AFP

Democratic White House candidate Kamala Harris is in "excellent health" and fit for the presidency, according to a medical report published by the White House Saturday, as she aims to put pressure on rival Donald Trump to publish his own health records.

"Vice President Harris remains in excellent health," her physician Joshua Simmons said in the report, adding that she "possesses the physical and mental resiliency required to successfully execute the duties of the presidency."

According to Simmons, Harris's most recent physical exam, conducted in April, was "unremarkable."

Simmons noted that Harris suffers from seasonal allergies and hives, which are managed by non-prescription as well as prescription medications. Harris, 59, is also slightly nearsighted and wears contact lenses, the report said

The US vice president's team seeks to put the spotlight on the physical health and mental acuity of 78-year-old former president Trump, who has so far refused to release any detailed medical information, according to AFP.

Republican Trump became the oldest presidential nominee in US history after 81-year-old President Joe Biden withdrew from the White House race in July.

Biden passed the torch to Harris after a disastrous debate against Trump raised concerns in the Democratic Party about his own mental sharpness.

But Trump's apparent vitality means that his age has not so far weighed against his chances in the polls, in a knife-edge battle with Harris in the November 5 presidential election.

Harris's campaign drew attention to a recent series of articles in the New York Times that raised concerns about the fact that Trump had failed to disclose basic information about his health.

The newspaper also published an analysis of Trump's language showing that his speeches are increasingly long, "confused" and include vulgarities, a trend seen by experts as a possible sign of cognitive change.

Trump insists he is fully fit, but he has not released any full medical report for his campaign.

In late 2023, Trump released a note from his former White House doctor declaring him to be in "excellent" health, but it was short on details and did not say what tests Trump had undergone when he had a physical in September 2023.

The same doctor, Ronny Jackson, issued a statement in July after Trump's ear was wounded by an assassin's bullet at a rally in Pennsylvania, saying the former president was doing well.

Trump meanwhile boasted about a cognitive test he had undergone with Jackson while president in 2018 -- but then immediately flubbed his doctor's name, calling him "Ronny Johnson."

If Trump wins the election in November, he would be 82 at the end of his second term in the Oval Office.



Sources Reveal to Asharq Al-Awsat Details of Iranian Message Sent to Israel

An Iranian man rides a motorbike past a billboard (2-R) depicting (L-R) late Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh, late Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah and slain Iranian Quds Force commander Qasem Soleimani at the Enqelab Square, in Tehran, Iran, 07 October 2024. EPA/ABEDIN TAHERKENAREH
An Iranian man rides a motorbike past a billboard (2-R) depicting (L-R) late Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh, late Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah and slain Iranian Quds Force commander Qasem Soleimani at the Enqelab Square, in Tehran, Iran, 07 October 2024. EPA/ABEDIN TAHERKENAREH
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Sources Reveal to Asharq Al-Awsat Details of Iranian Message Sent to Israel

An Iranian man rides a motorbike past a billboard (2-R) depicting (L-R) late Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh, late Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah and slain Iranian Quds Force commander Qasem Soleimani at the Enqelab Square, in Tehran, Iran, 07 October 2024. EPA/ABEDIN TAHERKENAREH
An Iranian man rides a motorbike past a billboard (2-R) depicting (L-R) late Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh, late Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah and slain Iranian Quds Force commander Qasem Soleimani at the Enqelab Square, in Tehran, Iran, 07 October 2024. EPA/ABEDIN TAHERKENAREH

Iran has sent a message to Israel through European channels about its possible response to any attack that comes from Israel, diplomatic sources said Friday.

The sources told Asharq Al-Awsat that the Iranian message sent indirectly to Israel says that Iran would “shrug off a limited Israeli strike.”

Yet Tehran warned that “it would have no choice but to cross the red line” if its oil or nuclear facilities come under attack.

The Middle East remains on high alert for further escalation, awaiting Israel's response to an Iranian missile barrage on Oct. 1. Indications that the response is near rose this week after reports said Tel Aviv was able to reduce its differences with the US administration.

Israeli reports say the response would come during Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant’s visit to the US on Tuesday.

The Iranian message was sent as Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian visited Turkmenistan for an international meeting.

“Iran does not want war,” he said, but warned that Tehran “would respond if it came under attack.”

He also urged Israel to end its military campaigns in Gaza and Lebanon.