Dick Cheney's former doctor says Trump is overdue a medical test.
Doctor Says Trump May Be Overdue for Medical Exams After ‘Aced’ Cognitive Test Boast
May 6 2026, Published 4:21 p.m. ET
A cardiologist who previously treated former Vice President Dick Cheney said President Donald Trump may be overdue for an annual medical exam. This comes after Trump claimed he had “aced” cognitive tests and suggested that White House candidates should take them before running.
Dr. Jonathan Reiner, a professor of medicine and surgery at George Washington University and CNN’s chief medical analyst, responded after Trump posted on Truth Social that anyone running for president or vice president “should be forced to take a Cognitive Examination prior to entering the Race.”
Reiner believes President Donald Trump has recieved a sleep test due to nodding off during meetings.
Trump also mentioned he had taken the exam three times and “ACED IT ALL THREE TIMES,” according to The Mirror.
Reiner posted on X that he agreed candidates for president should go through medical, cognitive, and psychiatric evaluations before an election.
He added that presidents should have the same evaluation every year, with the report sent to Congress. “BTW, the president is overdue for his annual exam,” Reiner wrote, according to the outlets.
Trump, 79, last had a publicly documented annual physical on April 11, 2025, at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center. Capt. Sean P. Barbabella, the physician to the president, wrote in an April 13, 2025, memo that Trump underwent diagnostic tests and consultations with 14 specialists.
The memo stated Trump’s cognitive function was evaluated using the Montreal Cognitive Assessment, or MoCA, and that he scored 30 out of 30.
Barbabella noted that Trump’s neurological exam showed no issues in his mental status, cranial nerves, motor and sensory function, reflexes, gait, or balance.
Barbabella concluded at the time that Trump remained in “excellent health” and was “fully fit to execute the duties of the Commander-in-Chief and Head of State.”
The memo listed Trump’s age at 78 years and 10 months, his weight as 224 pounds, and his blood pressure as 128/74.
Trump returned to the topic of cognitive tests Monday during a White House Small Business Summit. The White House shared video of the event, where Trump spoke to business owners and officials.
News reports indicated he again described the test and told the audience he would take another one when critics questioned his ability to do the job.
“The first question is very easy,” Trump said, according to The Independent. He gave an example question involving animals, including a lion, a bear, an alligator, and a squirrel, before stating that the test becomes harder later on.
Trump talks about his cognitive test and says he has done three so far.
Trump has frequently presented his cognitive test results as proof of his mental sharpness. Medical experts have pointed out that the MoCA is a screening tool used to identify potential cognitive impairment, not an IQ test.
The 2025 White House physician memo classified the test as part of Trump’s neurological assessment, not as a measure of intelligence.
The exchange reignited a longstanding political debate about presidential age and medical transparency. Trump has criticized former President Joe Biden over his fitness for office and has also targeted former President Barack Obama in posts about cognitive testing.
Biden, now 83, faced significant pressure from Democrats in 2024 before he ended his reelection campaign.
Trump became the oldest person sworn in as U.S. president when he started his second term in January 2025. He will turn 80 in June.
The White House has continued to defend his health, citing the April 2025 physician memo and Trump’s public schedule as evidence of his fitness for office.
Reiner’s post did not diagnose Trump or claim he has a medical condition. It called for regular formal reviews and public reporting standards for presidents.