Another US presidential health check, another clean bill of health. Dr Sean Conley, physician to Donald Trump, has declared the 45th president in 'excellent' condition. But the timing reeks of stage management.
The memo, released late on a Friday, buried the lead: Trump's weight has crept up, his cholesterol is 'well-controlled' by medication. The headline is 'excellent health'. The subtext is 'nothing to see here'.
This is a PR exercise, not a medical assessment. Presidential health checks have long been a source of cynicism. The White House controls the release.
The doctor is a political appointee. In the UK, we have our own quirks, but at least the prime minister's medical records aren't spun for political advantage. Here, the man who famously questioned Obama's birth certificate now has his own health data deployed as a campaign weapon.
The message is clear: Trump is fit for office. The reality is more complex. His BMI edges into the overweight category.
He takes a statin. The statement mentioned no cognitive tests, no stress ECG. For a 74-year-old man, those omissions are telling.
The game is transparent. But in the era of alternative facts, the White House bets the press will bite on the headline. They're probably right.
