The ongoing speculation surrounding the health of former President Donald Trump has attracted fresh attention following remarks made by California Representative Ted Lieu. During a statement, Lieu presented concerns regarding Trump’s recent actions, notably the cancellation of a bipartisan housing bill signing event. This incident prompted a sharp rebuke from the White House’s communications director, who labelled Lieu as a “dumbass” in response to the Congressman’s insinuations about Trump’s health.
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On June 24, Lieu raised questions about Trump’s wellbeing, following reports that the 79-year-old had been associated with a new experimental weight loss drug. The White House has categorically denied these claims, with Cheung firmly asserting that there was no substance to the rumour. “Sadly for Ted, there’s no special new drug to cure being a bitch,” Cheung remarked on social media after Lieu highlighted Trump’s behaviour during public appearances.
In his comments, Lieu characterised Trump’s recent actions as “erratic,” pointing towards instances where the former president seemed drowsy in meetings and had visible bruising on his hands. “Is he unable to stay awake today? What’s causing him to chicken out again? Is it TACO [Trump Always Chickens Out] Wednesday, or is it side effects from a drug?” Lieu questioned, emphasising the need for the White House to provide clarity on the situation during an interview with C-SPAN.
This latest incident comes in the wake of reports, notably from the media outlet STAT, which revealed that a 79-year-old man had been approved for early access to the experimental weight loss drug retatrutide through the FDA’s compassionate use programme. This programme allows patients with serious or life-threatening conditions to access investigational treatments when other options are not viable. Retatrutide has been associated with significant improvements in obesity and type 2 diabetes, as noted by the Cleveland Clinic Journal of Medicine.
The anonymous sources quoted in the STAT report indicated that this particular case piqued the interest of senior health officials, suggesting that the individual was well-connected. Journalist Lizzy Lawrence, responsible for the report, later sought clarification from the White House on whether this individual was Trump, who had recently celebrated his 80th birthday. In their response, the White House emphatically denied any connection, labelling those propagating such speculation as “sick and deranged.”
Yet, Lieu has remained sceptical about the White House’s denial, pushing for answers regarding Trump’s potential access to this drug. “Did Donald Trump get this special drug from Eli Lilly, and if so, why was that the case?” Lieu queried during his press interactions, reinforcing concerns about transparency from the administration.
The unidentified patient granted access to retatrutide was reportedly diagnosed with conditions related to severe obesity and obstructive sleep apnea, as well as pulmonary hypertension—a serious illness characterised by elevated blood pressure in the lungs. However, there have been no verified reports linking Trump to any such medical conditions.
In a physical examination report released earlier this year, Trump’s health was described as “excellent” by his physician, Dr. Sean Barbabella, who stated that the former president demonstrated strong cardiac, pulmonary, and neurological functions. Dr. Barbabella also recommended dietary changes and increased physical activity, highlighting the ongoing preventive care measures suggested for Trump.
Despite Trump’s claims in January that he has never used any GLP-1 weight loss drugs, he did indicate that he “probably should,” indicating an awareness of the potential benefits of such treatments. As the debate over Trump’s health continues, it remains to be seen how these conversations will evolve, especially with the upcoming election cycle.
As speculation mounts and figures in both parties respond, the discourse surrounding Trump’s health is likely to persist, drawing attention to broader issues of transparency and accountability in political leadership.