Harris Questions Trump’s Fitness for Office Amid Exhaustion Claims as Election Approaches

Vice President Kamala Harris is raising questions about former President Donald Trump’s capacity to handle the rigors of another term in the White House as she contrasts her age with his. During a visit to Grand Rapids, Michigan, Harris referred to a media report indicating that Trump, at 78, has struggled with exhaustion on the campaign trail, citing the failure of several scheduled interviews. “I’m seeing that his team at least is saying he’s suffering from exhaustion,” she stated, emphasizing the demanding nature of the presidency.

Former President Donald Trump has been agreeing to interviews but failing to finalize dates. According to an adviser, this is due to the Republican presidential nominee feeling “exhausted”, as reported by Politico. Trump was reportedly in discussions for a sit-down interview with The Shade Room, a popular media outlet that primarily caters to a young and Black audience. However, after weeks of not scheduling a date, a Trump adviser informed The Shade Room’s producers that he is “exhausted and refusing [some] interviews, but that could change” at any time.

In response to the report, a Trump campaign spokesperson denied the claims, labeling them as “unequivocally false”, according to the CBS News. Harris argued that if Trump is indeed exhausted from campaigning, it raises concerns about his fitness for the presidency. “It’s a legitimate question,” she said. “It should be a concern if he can’t handle the rigors of the campaign trail.”

Trump has not released recent medical records, asserting that all information regarding his health is already public. His campaign insists he is in “perfect and excellent health,” a claim he reiterated while campaigning in Michigan. In November 2023, Trump shared a letter from his osteopathic physician, stating that he was examined in September and found to be in excellent overall health, although the letter did not include specifics on his vitals or medications. “I’ve done five exams over the last four years,” he told CBS News.

When pressed about whether he had released all of his medical records, Trump challenged Harris to take a cognitive test, saying, “I want to see her do a cognitive test because she couldn’t, because she wasn’t born smart.” He further claimed he had “gone 48 days now without a rest,” adding, “I’m not even tired; I’m really exhilarated.”

During his New York hush money trial earlier this year, Trump was reportedly seen dozing off while sitting at the defense table during witness testimony. He denied this allegation, asserting in a post on Truth Social that he would “simply close my beautiful blue eyes, sometimes listen intensely, and take it ALL in!!!”, according to the NBC News.

If elected, Trump would become the oldest person to assume the presidency. In contrast, Harris recently released a letter from her doctor confirming that she is in “excellent health” and possesses the necessary physical and mental resiliency for the role. Her physician, Dr. Joshua Simmons, reported that her latest tests were unremarkable and noted that she has no significant medical history.

Additionally, over 230 doctors, nurses, and health care professionals—many of whom support Harris—have called on Trump to release his health records, expressing concern over what they describe as “alarming characteristics of declining acuity.” Without detailed medical records, the letter argues, the public is left to infer from Trump’s public appearances.