Vice President Kamala Harris, the Democratic presidential nominee, released a letter from her doctor on Saturday declaring her in good health and fit for high office. This move was made to contrast her health status with that of her opponent, Donald Trump.
The memo, issued by Harris’s physician, Dr. Joshua Simmons, following her April physical exam, described her health as “unremarkable.” He noted that she leads an active lifestyle, maintains a “very healthy diet” despite her busy schedule, and suffers only from seasonal allergies and occasional hives. She does not use tobacco and drinks alcohol only in moderation.
“She possesses the physical and mental resiliency required to successfully execute the duties of the Presidency, including those of Chief Executive, Head of State, and Commander in Chief,” Dr. Simmons stated.
Harris, 59, is running against Republican Trump, 78, in the 2024 presidential election. Her campaign made her medical records public to highlight Trump’s reluctance to do the same, an issue Harris has framed as a lack of transparency.
“I think that it’s obvious that his team, at least, does not want the American people to see everything about who he is,” Harris remarked before boarding a plane to North Carolina.
In contrast, Trump’s campaign communications director, Steven Cheung, stated that Trump has voluntarily released updates from his physician and received reports from Dr. Ronny Jackson, who treated him after a past assassination attempt. “All have concluded he is in perfect and excellent health to be Commander in Chief,” Cheung said.
The Harris campaign is keen to emphasize Trump’s age, noting that he is the oldest candidate in the race after President Joe Biden, 81, stepped aside following a poor debate performance against Trump. Harris’ team hopes to draw a distinction between her youth, mental sharpness, and transparency compared to Trump’s advanced age and reluctance to share medical details.
According to Dr. Simmons, Harris’s seasonal allergies are well-managed with medications, and her hives are sporadic and respond to antihistamines. Harris has been undergoing allergen immunotherapy for the past three years, which has significantly improved her symptoms.
She wears contact lenses and has a family history of colon cancer on her mother’s side. Harris is up to date on preventive health screenings, including colonoscopy and annual mammograms, Dr. Simmons confirmed.