Donald Trump is set to undergo his annual physical at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center on Friday, marking the first health examination of his second term as president. At 78 years old, Trump is now the oldest individual to occupy the White House, and his upcoming medical check has sparked curiosity regarding the condition of a man who, as he asserted in a post on Truth Social, has "never felt better."

Despite frequently questioning the physical and mental acuity of his predecessor, Joe Biden, Trump has been notably private about his own health details. Historically, Trump has kept basic health information elusive, often circumventing traditional presidential transparency on medical issues. This latest physical will be closely scrutinized as it may provide the first official updates on his health since the July assassination attempt during a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, where he suffered a superficial gunshot wound to the ear.

Trump has a history of not fully disclosing his health status; for instance, he did not reveal medical records following the July incident although he claimed he would "very gladly" do so in an August interview. His former physician, Ronny Jackson, recently noted that Trump could live to be 200 with healthier habits, yet Jackson's memos have also been critiqued for lacking in-depth medical data.

The last extensive overview of Trump's health came in November 2023, when Dr. Bruce A. Aronwald publicly praised Trump's physical and cognitive health, describing him as being in “excellent” condition. However, this report lacked quantitative details such as weight and cholesterol levels, leading many to speculate whether the forthcoming physical will offer any substantive revelations.

In 2018, previous White House physician Dr. Ronny Jackson declared Trump as being "in excellent health," despite acknowledging that Trump had a high cholesterol count. Trump's tendency to keep medical specifics under wraps furthers the anticipation surrounding his physical this week, especially given that typical updates from the White House about a president's health are rarely comprehensive.

During both his previous and current presidency, Trump has displayed a mix of concern and bravado regarding his health. Nevertheless, public skepticism has arisen each time he has made statements assuring his robust health, particularly following hospitalizations, such as his treatment for COVID-19 in October 2020 when the severity of his condition was downplayed.

The results from this physical are expected to be minimalistic in nature, continuing a legacy of limited health disclosures accompanied by carefully crafted narratives, as seen in Trump's past check-ups. As the day unfolds, many will be keenly watching to see if President Trump will transcend his historical reticence and share vital health information following his examination.

For further information, visit New York Times, ABC News, and South China Morning Post for complete coverage.