Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett (TX-30) has formally demanded answers from the White House regarding President Donald J. Trump’s health, citing what she calls a troubling “pattern of concealment” surrounding his physical and cognitive condition.
In a letter dated October 10 to White House Physician Captain Sean P. Barbabella, D.O., MC, USN, Rep. Crockett called for transparency about the president’s ability to fulfill the duties of his office amid growing public concern and what she described as “visible evidence of decline.”
“The President seems unwell. From his physical symptoms to his visible cognitive decline, the American people deserve clear answers about his ability to serve,” Crockett wrote on Instagram, sharing excerpts from her letter. “We need transparency—not a cover-up.”
Crockett’s call for accountability follows months of viral footage and eyewitness accounts that appear to show President Trump struggling with mobility, speech, and memory lapses during public appearances.
Despite these incidents, the White House has continued to insist that the president “exhibits excellent cognitive and physical health.”
In her letter, the Texas congresswoman listed a series of questions demanding direct answers from Dr. Barbabella, including:
- Whether President Trump has suffered a heart attack or stroke in the past 15 years;
- Whether any health issues have interfered with his ability to perform presidential duties;
- Whether he uses assistive devices such as a cane or brace in private;
- The cause of repeated facial paralysis and noticeable mobility issues; and
- The medical basis for declaring the president fit to serve as Commander-in-Chief.
Crockett also cited a July 2025 memorandum from Dr. Barbabella acknowledging that the president suffers from chronic venous insufficiency—a circulatory condition that can cause swelling, discoloration, and leg weakness. The same memo confirmed that Trump takes daily aspirin as part of a cardiovascular prevention regimen, a measure generally discouraged for individuals over 70 unless they’ve already experienced a cardiovascular event.
“The pattern is deeply concerning,” Crockett wrote. “If the President’s health is indeed failing, the American people must be informed. If it is not, then transparency will only strengthen public confidence in the office.”
The inquiry marks one of the most direct congressional challenges to the Trump administration’s handling of presidential health disclosures.
Historically, presidents have faced scrutiny over medical transparency—from Franklin D. Roosevelt’s paralysis to John F. Kennedy’s Addison’s disease—but Crockett’s investigation underscores a modern demand for truth and accountability in the digital age, where signs of distress are captured in real time.
Legal experts note that while members of Congress cannot compel the release of the president’s private medical records without consent, sustained public and political pressure could force the administration to issue a more detailed health report.
For now, Crockett’s letter has ignited a national conversation about age, fitness, and honesty in leadership—themes likely to dominate headlines as the country looks toward the next election cycle.
“The American people deserve a president who is transparent about his health,” Crockett stressed. “Anything less is a betrayal of public trust.”
