By Aaron Miller-
The state of president Trump’s lungs following his release from hospital is a curious question, journalists have been pursuing to no avail.
The U.S president’s medical team have been secretive about the state of the president’s lungs and when he last tested negative for coronavirus. The questions have been persistently asked in order to assess the present health condition of the man fighting to defend the highest office in the world in next month’s presidential elections.
Unsurprisingly, Trump’s doctors say he will not waive the patient-doctor confidentiality. Detailed release of the precise medical state of the president would be food for the world press , but any adverse findings could potentially damage the election chances of the president. Voters will increasingly pessimistic about a presidential candidate with damaged lungs indicating the possibility of death caused by a virus that has killed over 200,000 in America alone.
On Saturday, Dr Conley said pneumonia was a “known risk”, but that Mr Trump was receiving the standard care “and beyond” to make sure his risk of contracting pneumonia was low.
Many in the media fraternity have been reading into the absence of a direct response to a question by a reporter as to whether there were any signs of lung damage in Mr Trump .Dr Conley simply responded saying they are doing “daily ultrasounds” and “daily lab work”, but “wouldn’t go into specifics on what the findings are”. He refused to confirm or deny that Mr Trump had needed oxygen at any point, saying just that he had not needed any on Friday or Saturday.
Trump has cut a defiant figure in the face of those who have mocked him for playing down the virus, only to catch it himself. His declaration to the American public not be afraid of Covid-19 is intended to send a subtle message that he emerged from the virus unscathed, but journalists remain unsatisfied with the fact they are unable to verify the full medical condition of the most powerful man in the world.
The mere fact Trump belongs to the high risk age bracket makes his case of particular interest to investigators, when added to the position he holds in the world. His refusal to permit his doctors to divulge personal information is not evidence he has something to hide. The right to privacy in many circumstances is the entitlement of every citizen of the United States, and his entitlement not to compromise that cannot be taken away.
At the same time, the avoidance of key questions by his doctors leads to curious questions as to whether the president is in fact less well than he is outwardly showing. It could also be an internal policy by his team to avoid intimate details about the president’s health at all times for political reasons.