President Donald Trump said Tuesday that a former White House physician told him he is “by far the healthiest” president when compared with former President Barack Obama. Trump made the remarks during a Hanukkah reception at the White House, drawing applause from supporters before Republicans and fact-checkers raised questions about the claim.
Trump, 79, began his remarks by condemning the mass shooting in Sydney, Australia, and expressing sympathy for the victims. He then shifted abruptly to praise his own health, invoking Rep. Ronny Jackson, the former White House doctor who served during both the Obama and Trump administrations.
“Ronny was asked, ‘Who’s the healthiest of all?’ Was it Barack Hussein Obama? Was it Sleepy Joe Biden? Or was it Donald Trump?” Trump said. “And he said ‘Trump was by far the healthiest.’”
Trump added, “He was the doctor for all three of us, and he said Trump was by far the healthiest. I love him.”
He continued, “If he didn’t say that, I would never have talked to him again. Ronny Jackson, what a great legend.”
Claims and Context
Trump’s assertion that Jackson compared his health with that of Obama and President Joe Biden has drawn scrutiny. While Jackson was White House physician during part of Obama’s second term and most of Trump’s first, he did not serve in that role for Biden. He left the White House Medical Unit before Biden’s presidency and later became a Republican congressman.
Representatives for Obama and Jackson did not immediately respond to requests for comment about Trump’s remarks.
Jackson’s medical credentials have been a subject of controversy. Past reports indicate he lost his medical license and faced a demotion in the Navy over alleged misconduct before being reinstated.
In an August statement shared by the White House, Jackson said of Trump, “As President Trump’s former personal physician … I can tell you unequivocally: President Donald J. Trump is the healthiest president this nation has ever seen.” That statement did not name other presidents.
Trump has faced ongoing public scrutiny over his health during his second term. In October, the current White House physician released the results of abdominal and cardiovascular MRI scans, calling them “perfectly normal” and saying the president remains in “excellent overall health.”
Earlier this year, Trump was diagnosed with chronic venous insufficiency, a condition involving poor blood circulation. White House officials have said it does not affect his overall fitness.
Critics and fact-checkers have noted that the timeline and specifics of Trump’s claim about Jackson’s comparison are unclear. Some have pointed out that there is no independent public record confirming Jackson ever made the specific comparative statement Trump described.