WASHINGTON, 19 Oct. - (ANA)- Speculation over the US leader's cognitive and physical health has been reignited by a new report on his medical arrangements.

 

Donald Trump has become the subject of fresh health speculation after a "three-minute" rule was exposed. The US President reportedly insists that his primary physician, Dr Sean Barbarella, always be within a three minute distance of him.

 

White House staffers leave the room when Mr Trump and Dr Barbarella speak, and the physician's manner is best-described as "low key and direct", a source told The Wall Street Journal. Dr Barbarella has been tasked with issuing the president's health reports during his second term, and has repeatedly framed his cognitive and physical condition as "excellent".

 

Amid mounting concerns linked to Mr Trump's apparent memory lapses and bodily swelling and bruising, the physician insisted he "demonstrates strong cardiac, pulmonary, neurological and overall physical function" in a report this May. "AI-enhanced electrocardiogram (ECG) analysis estimated his cardiac age, an established meadure of cardiovascularvitality, to be approximately 14 years younger than his chronological age," Dr Barbarella added.

 

"His demanding daily schedule, including multiple high-level meetings, public engagements, and regular physical activity, continues to support his overall well-being. Cognitive and physical performance are excellent. He is fully fit to carry out all duties of the Commander-in-Chief and Head of State."

 

The president's "three-minute" rule is not necessarily unusual, with other leaders thought to have made similar arrangements, according to Dr Jeffrey Kuhlman, who served in the White House under Bill Clinton, George W. Bush and Barack Obama.

 

But Mr Trump's health has come under growing scrutiny in recent months, fuelled by his octogenarian status and a book by former White House correspondents Maggie Haberman and Joanthan Swan alleging that he "seems old" and experiences "repeated bouts of drowsiness".

 

The US leader most recently fanned the flames of conjecture by suggesting his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping "was here last week", when in reality, Xi left the US almost a month prior.

 

Mr Trump also made a cryptic reference to having "very severe problems" during a rambling speech in the White House last week. He boasted about never being temped by alcohol or drugs like fentanyl in the monologue, before adding: "I have some very severe problems, but those are not one of them. I don't want to add them to the list. Because if I did, I guarantee I wouldn't be here right now."

 

He then appeared to backtrack, suggesting Attorney General Todd Blanche, his former personal lawyer, would "have to try and defend me because they're going to say 'What are they?' Which I actually don't know. I was just having fun".   - (ANA) - 

 

AB/ANA/19 October 2026 - - -