General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsIf the President is ill, do the people have a right to know?
Up to Trump, most candidates for the White House took a physical which the public knew about. But now, we don't know what condition that Trump may be in. His ankles swell up and he falls asleep, maybe due to lack of oxygen to his heart, might indicate a serious heart problem? I am not a doctor, so I only report what I have read.
But, it is a serious question. In my opinion, the people do have the right to know if their president is incapacitated with some serious health problem.
FalloutShelter
(14,659 posts)Especially if we are to believe that he is the leader of the free world involved in life and death negotiations with one hand on the red button.
Absofuckinglutely!
oldsoldierfadingfast
(402 posts)In case of a desirable outcome, celebrations take time to plan!
displacedvermoter
(5,029 posts)in case it is true, everyone should have the right to know!!!
RedWhiteBlueIsRacist
(2,284 posts)Last edited Tue May 26, 2026, 10:58 PM - Edit history (1)
Ocelot II
(131,340 posts)When Woodrow Wilson had a stroke, his illness was concealed from the public for months while his wife Edith was effectively the acting president. FDR had polio but he avoided being seen in public in a wheelchair. JFK had Addison's disease and chronic back pain, conditions that his staff actively concealed from the public and weren't known until after his death. So hiding a president's health problems is nothing new, but Trump's age, mental instability and other apparent health issues are being denied so strenuously, and in fact are being obviously lied about, that it's become ludicrous. The other presidents (plus Edith Wilson) were able to carry on with their duties despite their health problems, but Trump is losing his shit, mentally and physically, and we deserve to know what's going on.
Aussie105
(8,214 posts)But the job needs doing, please step aside, or be asked to step aside, from such an important role if your health won't permit doing it properly.
In Trump's case though - no empathy given, none sent his way.
Vacating the Oval Office is overdue, by a few years.
And yes, it should not be kept a secret.
Trump's past and currently declining medical reasons for his departure should be front page news.
Some may cry, some may smile, but that is a personal choice.
rpannier
(24,966 posts)If we were at war (a serious war) with a country on the level of China, Russia, etc then keeping his/her health a secret is justified.
Otherwise it should be public knowledge (should be public knowledge for all politicians in office)
Escape
(527 posts)is much more important. And it's not a very well kept secret..
Baitball Blogger
(52,747 posts)Something is very wrong with this Administration. Hiding his health problems is just one of the many things that isn't working as it should.
kimbutgar
(27,581 posts)He s doing satans work so we dont have the right to know
Morbius
(1,140 posts)...yes, we absolutely need to know, and therefore we have a right to know.
The need to know creates the right to know.
DURHAM D
(33,093 posts)I remember all the coverage in my Weekly Reader and Junior Scholastic about our right to know what was happening with our President's health.
Ocelot II
(131,340 posts)until after his death.
Skittles
(173,019 posts)Marie Marie
(11,561 posts)and we should know that he is healthy enough to do so.
BarbD
(1,508 posts)The World watches the demented behavior, no longer trusting the U.S.considering us a failing state. As citizens we have a right to know the health of our "leader".
Bluetus
(3,113 posts)He is receiving infusions to try to slow the absolutely obvious progression of Alzheimer's. His hands have monthly bruises from infusions of Leqembi. These infusions are administered inside the WH at the mini-hospital they have on premises. But the protocol for that drug says you have to get a brain MRI before the 1st, 3rd, 5th, 7th and 14th infusions to check for brain bleeding and swelling.
It was exactly 7 months ago that he was last at Walter Reed. He is having his 14th infusion, so he has to go to Reed for the MRI.
This is becoming perfectly obvious, and we should stop acting like it isn't happening.
I don't know what happens after the 14th infusion. I guess they keep giving the monthly doses and hope for the best. But if he isn't showing any bleeding or swelling, then I guess they don't schedule any more MRIs.
hamsterjill
(17,786 posts)This makes the most sense of anything that I've heard.
We should be entitled to know the condition of the health of the leader of the country, and the media has completely and totally failed by not reporting and investigating. Some on this thread have used previous Presidents as examples of health conditions having been hidden. Sure. But with the technology that we have available today and did not have when those men were in the Oval Office, there should be some way for a cracker jack investigator to get some valid information and report it.
With Stephen Miller pulling the strings, I will expect that Trump will be propped up for as long as possible. He will be dead six months before they admit it.
SWBTATTReg
(26,426 posts)But the gop scumbags will cover everything up about tRUMP's health, let him still be president despite his inability to perform the duties of his office. I suspect that the only way we'll know something is up is when he's on a show or interview, falls asleep like he normally does, and instead, dies right there on TV while still down, w/ his eyes shut like he does all of the time. Wouldn't surprise me.
NNadir
(38,604 posts)He probably was well aware of it himself. He ran because he felt no one else could put through the United Nations and probably no other Democrat could defeat the isolationist Dewey.
Of course, he wasn't an orange pedophile, so there's that. He ran in hopes of doing good, not to scam the US government.
oldsoldierfadingfast
(402 posts)we know our President is both physically and mentally unfit to be President - we don't need a doctor to tell us.
My question is can anything be done now except fight like our lives depend on it to take over Congress in the mid-terms. It is a long time to Nov. '28. A vast number of our countrymen are suffering now - What do WE do? ( Aside note: I am member of ACLU)