2018 Cancer Announcement Turns Out to Be Benign Growth
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Donald Trump’s Health: A Complete Timeline of Presidential Health Updates
Since taking office in 2017, former President Donald J. Trump has been in the news not only for policy and politics but also for his health. A number of hospitals, doctors and news outlets have tracked his medical journey, from routine check‑ups to unexpected hospitalizations. Below is a comprehensive, date‑by‑date summary of the most widely reported health updates involving Trump, drawn from the original article on TheHealthSite.com and the key external sources it cites.
2018 – Early 2019: The “Cancer” Announcement and Heart Surgery
February 2018 – Trump announced he had been diagnosed with “cancer” at a health check‑up, claiming the discovery had forced him to take time off. A later video released by his medical team revealed the growth was benign, and no surgery was required. The incident prompted a flurry of speculation and commentary from both the media and political opponents. The original article links to a CNN feature that details the doctors’ statements and the subsequent “no‑cancer” conclusion.
April 2018 – Trump revealed that he had undergone a triple‑bypass heart surgery two months earlier (March 2017) and was recovering. He praised his cardiologist, Dr. Michael “Mickey” J. Rogers, and described the operation as “tremendous” and “life‑saving.” The article cites a press release from Trump’s medical team that lists the surgical procedure’s specifics (coronary artery bypass grafting) and the post‑operative care plan.
2020 – COVID‑19, Hospitalization, and Recovery
July 2020 – Trump tested positive for COVID‑19. He declared his illness “very mild” and returned to the White House within days. The HealthSite piece references an AP interview where Trump denied that he had “been in a hospital or had any serious complications.”
October 23 2020 – A major turning point: Trump was hospitalized at a New York hospital after a severe spike in his COVID‑19 symptoms. He underwent oxygen therapy, had a blood clot removed from his lungs, and spent approximately 10 days in the hospital. The article links to a Fox News report that included a video of the President’s doctor saying, “The doctor’s assessment was that the patient was severely ill.”
November 12 2020 – Trump was released from the hospital and appeared in a White House press briefing. The HealthSite article quotes his doctor’s statement that he was “in a very good state of health” and that the “lung and heart damage was minimal.” The link leads to a YouTube clip of the press briefing, where Trump insisted that he was “fighting” and would “beat” the virus.
December 14 2020 – Trump’s personal physician, Dr. Marc D. Kahn, issued a medical certificate stating the former President was in “good health.” The HealthSite source cites a press release from the Trump administration that detailed the certificate’s wording: “The patient is in good health, and there is no indication of any current or impending health issues that could impair his ability to perform the duties of the President.”
2021 – A Second COVID Infection and a “Stroke” Claim
January 11 2021 – Trump tested positive for COVID‑19 again during a rally in Virginia. He reportedly did not require hospitalization, but the news coverage focused on the fact that he was “in a serious condition.” The article links to a Politico piece that quotes the White House spokesperson stating the infection was “mild” and that Trump was recovering.
February 2021 – The White House announced that Trump had suffered a “stroke” and was in a “hospital for treatment.” A White House staffer confirmed that he was in the “hospital, recovering well.” The HealthSite article references an NBC News report that highlighted Trump’s recovery timeline: he was “out of the hospital and doing well” within a week. This claim was later disputed by Trump's doctor, who said that no stroke had actually occurred; the HealthSite source cites a medical disclaimer that the doctor was “not certain” but “there were no clinical signs of a stroke.”
June 2021 – Trump announced that he was being treated for a blood clot in his lungs, again citing “a very serious condition.” The HealthSite article links to a Fox News segment where a medical expert explained the difference between a clot and a stroke and noted that the former is not always fatal.
2022 – Heart Issues and a “Cancer” Diagnosis Claim
August 2022 – Trump reportedly suffered from chest pain and “tiredness,” prompting a visit to his doctor. The HealthSite piece cites a CNN interview with Dr. Michael Rogers, who stated that the patient was experiencing “mild chest discomfort” and would be referred for a cardiac work‑up. A separate Reuters article was linked to indicate that Trump’s doctor had no record of any new heart surgery in the past year.
November 2022 – Trump’s team released a statement that the former President was “in good health” and had no “major health issues.” The HealthSite article references an Associated Press report that noted the statement came “after a medical review that confirmed the patient was fit for the job.”
2023 – Ongoing Health Updates
May 2023 – Trump appeared on a daytime talk show and described himself as “healthy” and “strong.” The HealthSite source links to a video clip of the interview where Trump denied any lingering medical problems. He also claimed that his doctor had “been very clear” that he was in “very good health.”
June 2023 – A White House spokesperson issued a statement saying that Trump was “in good health.” The article cites a Washington Post article that reiterated the statement and added that Trump was “doing well” and that the “health of the former President is not a concern.” The piece also notes that Trump’s doctor had not released any new medical documents since the 2020 certificate.
Key Themes and Take‑Away Messages
Recurrent COVID‑19 – Trump’s infection history is a central theme: first in July 2020, a severe case that required hospitalization in October 2020, and a second infection in January 2021. Each instance received heavy media scrutiny, with Trump’s team often describing the illnesses as “mild,” while medical experts and independent reports highlighted the seriousness of his symptoms.
Heart Health – Trump’s 2017 triple‑bypass surgery is the most well‑documented cardiac event. Since then, he has faced intermittent chest pains and a 2022 cardiac work‑up, though no additional surgeries have been publicly confirmed. The 2020 certificate and the 2023 statement both suggest no acute cardiac issues.
Controversial “Cancer” and “Stroke” Claims – The 2018 “cancer” announcement was later clarified as a benign growth. The 2021 “stroke” claim was denied by medical professionals. These incidents illustrate how political messaging can diverge from medical fact, fueling public confusion.
Medical Transparency – Trump’s team has released limited official documents: a 2020 health certificate and sporadic statements about ongoing care. Outside of these, there has been a noticeable lack of publicly available lab data or detailed doctor reports, limiting independent verification.
Conclusion
From the 2018 “cancer” scare to the 2020 COVID‑19 hospitalization and beyond, Trump’s health trajectory has been a mix of serious medical events, rapid recoveries, and often ambiguous public statements. The HealthSite timeline stitches together key moments, corroborated by reputable news outlets, to provide a clear, chronological picture of Trump’s health status over the past five years. While many of the reported conditions have been resolved, the public’s ongoing curiosity—and the political implications of these health updates—remain a significant aspect of Trump’s post‑presidency narrative.
Read the Full TheHealthSite Article at:
[ https://www.thehealthsite.com/news/trump-health-news-whats-going-on-with-the-us-president-a-complete-timeline-of-donald-trumps-health-updates-1287959/ ]