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Donald Trump turns 80 this Sunday, becoming the second president in the history of the United States to reach this age while in office, amidst a growing debate about his physical and cognitive abilities.
The president celebrates his birthday with the UFC Freedom 250 event, an evening of mixed martial arts in the south lawn of the White House in front of about 4,000 people, featuring headlining fights such as Ilia Topuria vs. Justin Gaethje for the lightweight title.
The date coincides with Flag Day and the 250th anniversary of the country's independence, adding a symbolic component to the celebration.
Once concluded, she will travel this Sunday night to France for the G7 summit in Évian-les-Bains, scheduled for June 15 to 17, with bilateral meetings planned with several world leaders.
Trump assumed office on January 20, 2025, at 78 years and seven months, becoming the oldest president to take office in U.S. history.
What the official medical report states
According to the latest medical report from the White House, published following the review on May 26 at the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, Trump is in "excellent health" and is "fully capable of performing all the duties of Commander in Chief," according to Captain Sean P. Barbabella, the White House physician, who had 22 specialists involved in the examination.
Trump achieved a perfect score of 30/30 on the Montreal Cognitive Assessment, and an electrocardiogram analysis enhanced by artificial intelligence estimated that his cardiac age is approximately 14 years younger than his chronological age.
His vital signs: weight of 238 pounds, blood pressure of 105/71 mmHg, and oxygen saturation of 98%.
The president neither smokes nor drinks alcohol, although his own Secretary of Health, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., described his diet as "really bad," consisting of fast food, sweets, and soda.
The doubts that persist
Despite the official picture, recent surveys show the public's concerns about the president's health, particularly regarding his mental capacity.
A survey conducted by Reuters-Ipsos in February revealed that 61% of Americans believe he has become erratic with age. Even 30% of Republicans agreed with this opinion.
The survey also indicated a decrease in the percentage of people who believe that Trump is "mentally sharp and capable of facing challenges." That figure dropped from 54% in September 2023 to 45% currently.
At the beginning of June, Democratic Congressman Ted Lieu had a tense confrontation with Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Congress, where he showed videos of Trump with his eyes closed during official meetings.
Rubio rejected the accusations and described the president as someone who "never sleeps" and who remains "incredibly active" in international travel.
On the other hand, critics have pointed out bruises on his hands—which Trump tries to cover up with makeup—swollen ankles, and episodes of drowsiness during public events.
In July 2025, Trump was diagnosed with chronic venous insufficiency, a benign condition common in older adults, and in March of this year a reddish spot on his neck raised public concern, although the doctor explained it as a preventive dermatological treatment.
The political double standard
The debate takes place in a context of clear double standards: Trump has turned Biden's health into an electoral weapon for years, nicknaming him "Sleepy Joe" and accusing him of not knowing what he was signing.
At 81 years old, Biden withdrew from his 2024 reelection campaign under pressure from his party, which deemed him unable to continue in office.
The aging expert Jay Olshansky warned EFE that only 15% of people aged 80 "retain cognitive abilities typical of individuals decades younger."
For his part, political analyst Larry Sabato put it bluntly: "Both Biden and Trump were too old to be elected presidents of a superpower."
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