Many Americans question the transparency of the White House regarding President Donald Trump’s health, according to a recent YouGov survey conducted on September 2 with 1,678 U.S. adults.
Speculation about Trump’s health increased over Labor Day weekend after he was absent from public events, prompting discussions on social media. Addressing these concerns during a news conference in the Oval Office on September 2, Trump said: “Last week, I did numerous news conferences, all successful. And then I didn’t do any for two days, and they said ‘there must be something wrong with him.’” He continued, “[Former President Joe] Biden wouldn’t do them for months, you wouldn’t see him. And nobody ever said there was ever anything wrong with him, and we know he wasn’t in the greatest of shape.”
The poll asked respondents how much they trust information released by the White House about Trump’s health. Fifty-two percent reported trusting this information “only a little” or “not at all.” In contrast, 17% said they trusted it “some,” and 18% indicated “a great deal” of trust. Thirteen percent were unsure.
Results showed significant partisan divides: 78% of Democrats expressed low levels of trust in White House communications about Trump’s health compared to 63% of Republicans who reported some or high levels of trust.
This skepticism mirrors sentiments seen in July 2024 when similar proportions doubted White House statements about Biden’s health. That same month, Biden withdrew from the presidential race amid questions regarding his fitness following a June debate with Trump and his diagnosis with an aggressive form of prostate cancer several months after leaving office.
The latest survey also asked whether Trump had provided enough information about his physical health. Forty-nine percent believed he had not released sufficient details; 29% disagreed; and 22% were unsure. Democrats were again more skeptical than Republicans.
Trump is currently tied with Biden as the oldest president ever inaugurated; both were age 78 when taking office in their respective terms (2021 for Biden and 2024 for Trump).
Following his annual physical exam in April, White House physician Sean Barbabella stated that Trump “remains in excellent health.” On July 17, Barbabella announced via letter that Trump had been diagnosed with chronic venous insufficiency—a condition described as benign—and addressed images showing bruising on Trump’s hand by attributing it to frequent handshaking and aspirin use for cardiovascular prevention.
Some medical experts have voiced doubts about official presidential health disclosures due to historical incidents where leaders’ medical conditions were hidden from the public and because there are no legal requirements mandating full transparency regarding presidential health status.
“We have learned over and over again — including in recent times — that politicians have deceived the public about their health in very high stakes ways,” Jacob M. Appel, professor at Icahn School of Medicine and presidential health historian, previously told McClatchy News.
A May YouGov/Economist poll found that a majority—57%—believed government officials tried to conceal information related to Biden’s health.
