Just like NBC did the night before, ABC continued conjecturing about President Trump’s health Tuesday morning, based off of an undisclosed visit to Walter Reed hospital over the weekend. Even though the White House doctor shut down rumors that Trump had a heart attack, the network dismissed that information to speculate that the White House was actually lying about Trump’s health.
On Good Morning America, anchor George Stephanopoulos noted Trump’s visit had prompted “new questions.” Correspondent Cecilia Vega also touted speculation “running rampant” about the visit, before acknowledging that President Trump’s doctor called this a routine checkup and said nothing was wrong with his heart. But that didn’t stop the ABC journalists from spreading gossip.
Sounding more like a tabloid journalist, Stephanopoulos suggested it was suspicious that Trump hadn’t been seen in public since the physical:
“But, Cecilia, we have not seen the president in public since the Saturday physical and there were several unusual aspects of this visit,” he stated.
Vega continued with the gossip, calling the visit “unusual” two more times. The correspondent even ended her report by implying the White House was probably lying about Trump’s health:
It is very unusual to have a president have a physical performed in various stages like President Trump says he's having for this one. They also are not usually done month as head of schedule. That's unusual and a presidential visit to a hospital requires extra security usually.
Of course, all of this coming at a very crucial time for this White House in the middle of this impeachment inquiry and, of course, with the president who's got an uncomfortable relationship, shall we say, with the truth, George, therefore all this speculation running rampant.
As NewsBusters’ Nicholas Fondacaro pointed out yesterday, the media attacked anyone who dared question Hillary Clinton’s health, when she stumbled and had coughing fits several times in public, on video, during the 2016 campaign. Yet when Trump gets an annual physical, it’s fine for them to speculate he has severe health problems.
Just like they did in 2018, expect the media to continue pushing wild rumors based off of nothing, though they may be more distracted by the impeachment inquiry, this time around.
Read the full transcript below:
7:03:15-7:05:20AM EST
GMA
11/19/19
GEORGE STEPHANOPOULOS: We’re going to go to the White House now, facing new questions about President Trump’s health after a surprise visit to Walter Reed hospital Saturday, for what officials describe as the first phase of Trump’s 2020 physical. Our senior white house correspondent Cecilia Vega at the White House with the latest. Cecilia, the president's position put out a statement last night to address questions swirling around this visit.
CECILIA VEGA: Yeah, George. This statement is not putting any of those questions to rest frankly. This happened Saturday. The president went to Walter Reed. This was not on his schedule. After this appointment, the president tweeted that he was in great health but the speculation as you said ran rampant. It was a late night statement from the doctor released overnight. He called this a routine planned interim checkup. The doctor said it was kept off the record because of, quote, scheduling uncertainties. We know that the exam lasted about an hour. Take a look. The doctor saying, quote, despite some of the speculation the president has not had any chest pain nor was he evaluated or treated for any you are sent or acute issues specifically, he did not undergo any specialized or cardiac or neurological evaluations. He doesn't say anything about his overall health except his cholesterol dropped to a healthy range. George press secretary Stephanie Grisham The president's performance at his rallies is evidence of his good health and he was simply anticipating a very busy 2020 to come. That is why he got a jump start on this physical, because he had a free weekend here in Washington.
STEPHANOPOULOS: But, Cecilia, we have not seen the president in public since the Saturday physical and there were several unusual aspects of this visit.
VEGA: Yeah, George, exactly. The last two physicals for this president were announced in advance. It is very unusual to have a president have a physical performed in various stages like President Trump says he's having for this one. They also are not usually done month as head of schedule. That's unusual and a presidential visit to a hospital requires extra security usually. Of course, all of this coming at a very crucial time for this white house in the middle of this impeachment inquiry and, of course, with the president who's got an uncomfortable relationship, shall we say, with the truth, George, therefore all this speculation running rampant.
