A prominent doctor has criticized former President Donald Trump‘s justification for undergoing an MRI scan in October 2023, stating the reasoning is “not plausible.” Dr. Jonathan Reiner, a cardiologist who served Dick Cheney for over three decades, expressed his concerns during an interview with CNN. He emphasized that the White House’s assertion that Trump received the MRI as a preventive measure lacks credibility.
Dr. Reiner explained that an MRI is not typically part of routine preventive care, which Trump claimed. He noted, “There’s no chance that this was just sort of routine preventative care. First of all, it’s not part of routine preventative care.” The doctor pointed out that the information disclosed included a chest scan and an abdominal scan, yet there was no clarity on whether an MRI had actually been performed.
He further highlighted the ambiguity surrounding the scans, stating, “The president’s doctor didn’t even disclose what kind of scan. The president said MRI; all that the president’s physician said was advanced imaging. Did he have an MRI? Did he have a CT? Did he have both?” Dr. Reiner also raised concerns about the lack of information regarding whether Trump had a brain scan, stating, “It’s not plausible or really credible to believe that they just decided to do some preventative screening for a third time this year.”
In a report by The Daily Beast, Dr. Reiner suggested that the MRI Trump received at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center was likely a response to symptoms or concerns about his health. Trump’s responses to inquiries about the MRI have only added to the confusion. When asked on Air Force One about which part of his body was examined, Trump stated, “It wasn’t the brain, because I took a cognitive test and aced it, I got a perfect mark. Which you would be incapable of doing!”
Before the results of Trump’s MRI were made public, analysts remarked on the unusual nature of his refusal to release the results. Steve Benen from MS NOW commented that the situation had become “weirder” with each of Trump’s statements, rather than clarifying the matter. Benen cited an Associated Press headline stating, “Trump says he’ll release MRI results but doesn’t know what part of his body was scanned.”
He further elaborated on the significance of cognitive exams, stating, “The president has long struggled to understand the purpose of cognitive exams, which are used to identify evidence of dementia, mental deterioration and neurodegenerative diseases. It’s entirely possible for a patient to do well on such a test and still need a head MRI.”
As questions surrounding Trump’s health continue to arise, the lack of transparency regarding his medical evaluations may fuel further speculation about his condition. Dr. Reiner’s critique underscores a growing concern among medical professionals and the public regarding the clarity and validity of the information being shared.
