Trump ‘In Excellent Health’ but Should Lose Weight, Says Presidential Physician

US President Donald Trump reacts during a Cabinet meeting in the Cabinet Room of the White House in Washington, DC, USA, 27 May 2026. (EPA)
US President Donald Trump reacts during a Cabinet meeting in the Cabinet Room of the White House in Washington, DC, USA, 27 May 2026. (EPA)
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Trump ‘In Excellent Health’ but Should Lose Weight, Says Presidential Physician

US President Donald Trump reacts during a Cabinet meeting in the Cabinet Room of the White House in Washington, DC, USA, 27 May 2026. (EPA)
US President Donald Trump reacts during a Cabinet meeting in the Cabinet Room of the White House in Washington, DC, USA, 27 May 2026. (EPA)

Donald Trump's doctor said he was in "excellent health" but advised him to lose weight, the White House said Friday, after the US president's annual medical check-up weeks before his 80th birthday.

Republican Trump, the oldest president ever inaugurated, has repeatedly boasted about his mental and physical vigor compared to his Democratic predecessor Joe Biden.

But Trump's medical and dental check-up on Tuesday at the Walter Reed Military Hospital near Washington followed questions about his apparent sleepiness in meetings and bruising on his hand.

"President Trump remains in excellent health, demonstrating strong cardiac, pulmonary, neurological, and overall physical function," said Trump's doctor, US Navy Captain Sean Barbabella, in a memo published by the White House.

The three-page memo provides an overview of Trump's physical examination and diagnostic testing, in which Barbabella concludes that the leader is "fully fit to carry out all duties of the Commander-in-Chief and Head of State."

"Preventative counseling was provided, including guidance on diet, recommendation to take a low-dose aspirin, increased physical activity, and continued weight loss," it said.

According to the memo, Trump -- who stands at six foot three inches (191 cm) tall -- weighs 238 pounds (108 kilograms), 14 pounds (6.4 kilograms) higher than his last full annual medical in April last year.

Trump's cardiac age is estimated to be "approximately 14 years younger than his chronological age."

Trump scored "30 out of 30" in the cognitive assessment.

The president has spoken dozens of times about "acing" a cognitive test that he claims his predecessors have not taken.

- 'Frequent handshaking' -

Trump, who turns 80 on June 14, is on three medications, two of which are designated for cholesterol control and the third being aspirin for "cardiac prevention."

Since returning to office, the Republican has often appeared with bruising on his right hand, usually covered with make-up.

"Examination of the dorsal hands revealed ecchymosis (bruising), consistent with minor soft tissue irritation related to frequent handshaking in the setting of aspirin use for cardiovascular prevention," the memo said regarding Trump's bruised hands.

During a number of White House events, the president has also been seen apparently closing his eyes for several seconds, although he has repeatedly denied dozing off.

Last summer, the White House disclosed that he had been evaluated for swelling in his legs and diagnosed with chronic venous insufficiency -- a common condition in which faulty vein valves allow blood to pool, causing swelling, cramping and skin changes.

The revelation came after Trump was seen with swollen ankles on a number of occasions.

The memo also noted "scarring of the right ear consistent with prior gunshot injury."

Trump was the target of an assassination attempt during a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania in 2024. A gunman fired several shots, killing a rally goer and lightly wounding the president in the ear.

- 'Perfect' health -

Trump, for his part, said Tuesday's medical went "PERFECTLY" in a post on his Truth Social platform shortly after the appointment.

The White House later posted a picture of him on social media with the caption: "PERFECT BILL OF HEALTH!"

Following the president's check-up, US media reported that the White House had broken with precedent by not releasing the report, before it did so three days later.

The White House normally releases a summary of presidential physicals within hours or days, but the extent of the detail it gives is entirely at its own discretion.

Trump has long been accused of a lack of transparency about his health and the chronology of his various check-ups during his second term has only added to the confusion.

He referred to Tuesday's appointment as a "six-month physical," despite the White House billing it as an annual dental and medical examination in an announcement earlier this month.

Tuesday's medical examination was Trump's third since returning to office last year.

Trump's last scheduled annual check-up was in April last year. But it was followed by an unannounced hospital visit that October, which the White House then also described as an annual physical.



Ukrainian Drones Strike Port, Oil Depot in Southern Russia, Authorities Say

Servicemen of the 13th Khartiia Brigade of the National Guard of Ukraine take part in a tactical training exercise on a shooting range at an undisclosed location in the Kharkiv region, northeastern Ukraine, 29 May 2026, amid the Russian invasion. (EPA)
Servicemen of the 13th Khartiia Brigade of the National Guard of Ukraine take part in a tactical training exercise on a shooting range at an undisclosed location in the Kharkiv region, northeastern Ukraine, 29 May 2026, amid the Russian invasion. (EPA)
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Ukrainian Drones Strike Port, Oil Depot in Southern Russia, Authorities Say

Servicemen of the 13th Khartiia Brigade of the National Guard of Ukraine take part in a tactical training exercise on a shooting range at an undisclosed location in the Kharkiv region, northeastern Ukraine, 29 May 2026, amid the Russian invasion. (EPA)
Servicemen of the 13th Khartiia Brigade of the National Guard of Ukraine take part in a tactical training exercise on a shooting range at an undisclosed location in the Kharkiv region, northeastern Ukraine, 29 May 2026, amid the Russian invasion. (EPA)

Ukrainian ‌drones struck a tanker at Russia's port of Taganrog overnight and hit an oil depot in the city of Armavir, authorities in the southern regions of Rostov and Krasnodar said on Saturday.

Rostov region Governor Yury Slyusar said on Telegram ‌that fires on ‌the tanker and in ‌the ⁠port of Taganrog - ⁠a city of about 240,000 - had been extinguished, with no oil spill reported. Two people were injured, he said.

The city's mayor, Svetlana Kambulova, ⁠said a local state of emergency, ‌introduced ‌on May 27, had been extended.

In ‌the neighboring Krasnodar region, ‌authorities in Armavir, which has a population of 185,000, said a fire at an oil depot in the ‌city's industrial zone had been brought under control and ⁠that ⁠there were no injuries.

Rostov governor Slyusar said that almost 50 drones had been downed in the region, with attacks reported across the province, which borders Ukraine's Donbas, the focus of fighting between Russia and Ukraine.

Outside Taganrog, he said, only minor damage was reported.


US Sanctions Iranian Buyers of Military Technology

People wave Iranian flags during a rally in Tehran, Iran, May 29, 2026. Majid Asgaripour/WANA (West Asia News Agency) via Reuters
People wave Iranian flags during a rally in Tehran, Iran, May 29, 2026. Majid Asgaripour/WANA (West Asia News Agency) via Reuters
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US Sanctions Iranian Buyers of Military Technology

People wave Iranian flags during a rally in Tehran, Iran, May 29, 2026. Majid Asgaripour/WANA (West Asia News Agency) via Reuters
People wave Iranian flags during a rally in Tehran, Iran, May 29, 2026. Majid Asgaripour/WANA (West Asia News Agency) via Reuters

The United States announced Friday that it is "dismantling a sophisticated Iranian network" used to obtain sensitive military technology.

The network "impersonated and defrauded" dozens of American technology companies out of millions of dollars to "acquire advanced equipment, including spectrum analyzers and security detection devices, for Iran's defense sector," State Department Tommy Pigott said in a statement.

The statement did not name the technology companies who were lured into doing business through fake websites that "mimicked real American companies, using intermediaries in Dubai to receive shipments, and then smuggling the technology into Iran in violation of US sanctions."

The network was led by Iran-based Ali Majd Sepehr, the State Department spokesman said.

On Thursday, the State Department announced a $15 million reward for any information "leading to the disruption of the financial mechanisms of Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and its various branches."

On Friday, the White House said US President Donald Trump will only sign an agreement to end the war with Iran if it meets all his demands, amid uncertainty over the outcome of talks between Tehran and Washington.


Top US and Cuban Military Officers Meet at Guantanamo Bay

This photo posted on the X account of the US Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) on May 29, 2026, shows SOUTHCOM Commander General Francis L. Donovan (C), the Chief of the General Staff and First Deputy Minister of Cuba's Revolutionary Armed Forces (MINFAR) General Roberto Legra Sotolongo (2nd/L) and other Cuban military officials, during their meeting at the perimeter of the US Naval Station in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, on May 29, 2026. (Handout / US Southern Command / AFP)
This photo posted on the X account of the US Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) on May 29, 2026, shows SOUTHCOM Commander General Francis L. Donovan (C), the Chief of the General Staff and First Deputy Minister of Cuba's Revolutionary Armed Forces (MINFAR) General Roberto Legra Sotolongo (2nd/L) and other Cuban military officials, during their meeting at the perimeter of the US Naval Station in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, on May 29, 2026. (Handout / US Southern Command / AFP)
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Top US and Cuban Military Officers Meet at Guantanamo Bay

This photo posted on the X account of the US Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) on May 29, 2026, shows SOUTHCOM Commander General Francis L. Donovan (C), the Chief of the General Staff and First Deputy Minister of Cuba's Revolutionary Armed Forces (MINFAR) General Roberto Legra Sotolongo (2nd/L) and other Cuban military officials, during their meeting at the perimeter of the US Naval Station in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, on May 29, 2026. (Handout / US Southern Command / AFP)
This photo posted on the X account of the US Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) on May 29, 2026, shows SOUTHCOM Commander General Francis L. Donovan (C), the Chief of the General Staff and First Deputy Minister of Cuba's Revolutionary Armed Forces (MINFAR) General Roberto Legra Sotolongo (2nd/L) and other Cuban military officials, during their meeting at the perimeter of the US Naval Station in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, on May 29, 2026. (Handout / US Southern Command / AFP)

Senior US and Cuban military officers met on Friday at Guantanamo Bay, the US base on the communist island, as relations between the two countries deteriorate over President Donald Trump's threatened takeover.

US General Francis Donovan met with Cuban General Roberto Legra Sotolongo "for a brief exchange on operational security matters," US Southern Command said in a statement issued along with a photograph of the meeting.

"Gen. Donovan also led a perimeter security assessment of the naval base and discussed force protection, safety of service members and their families, and operational readiness with base officials."

Cuba's Ministry of Revolutionary Armed Forces stressed that "both delegations consider the meeting to have been positive" and they agreed "to maintain communication between the two military commands," according to a statement released on Facebook.

The uniformed men met at the US base at the southeastern tip of the island.

- Deteriorating relations -

Relations between Havana and Washington have continued to worsen since January, when the United States imposed a de facto oil blockade on the island by operating a military raid to remove leftist Nicolas Maduro from power in Venezuela.

Without Caracas as a lifeline, Cuba has struggled to keep electricity on, or food and medicine in stock.

Cuba's other allies in Russia, China and Iran are also facing US pressure to back off, through a fresh round of sanctions against Cuban companies and leaders. US officials also brought an indictment against former president Raul Castro, in a case that dates back to 1996.

Now Cuba is facing the brink of collapse.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who is Cuban American, has said the US is seeing a diplomatic solution to the standoff.

Reports last week suggested that Havana was considering drone strikes on the base in the event of an American attack.

Donovan led a perimeter security assessment of the US facility and discussed safety of service members and operational readiness, the statement said.

Guantanamo Bay, 430 miles (700 kilometers) southeast of Miami, on the southeastern coast of Cuba, is notorious as the site of abuse against terror suspects detained after the September 11, 2001 attacks.

Trump has also planned to use the base as a holding center for undocumented migrants.

"Naval Station Guantanamo Bay is a vital operational and logistical hub that supports US military efforts to counter threats that undermine security, stability and democracy in our hemisphere," US Southern Command said.