US President Donald Trump’s doctor said he was in “excellent health” but has advised him to lose weight, according to a memo released by the White House after the 79-year-old underwent a routine medical checkup. The three-page memo, released on Friday, provides an overview of Trump’s physical examination and diagnostic testing conducted at Walter Reed Medical hospital near Washington on Tuesday.
Doctor’s Assessment
“President Trump remains in excellent health, demonstrating strong cardiac, pulmonary, neurological and overall physical function,” said Trump’s doctor, US Navy captain Sean Barbabella. The memo also noted that Trump has been grappling with “lower leg swelling” as well as “benign” hand bruising but remains in excellent health. Barbabella asserted that the president is “fully fit to carry out all duties” of the presidency.
IRS Lawsuit Reopened
Meanwhile, a federal judge has reopened Trump’s $10bn case against the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to examine a $1.8bn settlement with the justice department. The decision by Miami judge Kathleen Williams to reopen the case – itself an unusual move, given that civil plaintiffs have broad latitude to drop complaints – was returned after a bipartisan group of 35 former federal judges urged her to look more closely at the settlement. The ruling revives a lawsuit brought by Trump and his sons against the IRS after their personal and business tax returns were leaked by a former contractor.
ICE Detention Lawsuit
The first lawsuit relating to the largest immigration detention facility in the US was filed early on Saturday against Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), accusing the agency of “dire” conditions that severely violate the human and constitutional rights of those locked up at the camp in Texas. A clutch of legal organizations is suing via a class-action complaint, listing four detainees as plaintiffs for themselves and on behalf of all those currently held as civil detainees at Camp East Montana or who will be held there in the future.
Trump Rally Announcement
In a spree of posts made to his Truth Social account on Saturday, Donald Trump lauded his administration’s efforts to turn the National Mall’s reflecting pool blue, denounced a judge’s ruling removing his name from the Kennedy Center, and announced he will hold an “America Is Back” rally next month to replace a concert series after a number of performers backed out.
Other News
Billionaire supporter of E Jean Carroll says inquiry meant to ‘silence’ Trump critics. Looming Iran peace deal shows how Trump’s maximalist goals have shrunk, writes Robert Tait, in this analysis about an elusive peace deal to end the Middle East conflict. There is little sign of clarity in the closing stretch of a campaign season for governor, Congress and LA mayor, writes the Guardian’s Lauren Gambino, in this piece examining how California is bracing for its most turbulent election in years. Alba Asenjo Domínguez has this special report on an ICE detention case: Shackled, transferred, mocked: woman, 23, says she gave in to deportation after ‘humiliating’ ICE detention.
