NYT Defends Trump Health Story After Katie Rogers 'I...

By Shane Croucher and Barney HendersonShareNewsweek is a Trust Project member

The New York Times pushed back against an attack by Donald Trump over its story about signs of fatigue in the U.S. president after he called one of the journalists who wrote it, Katie Rogers, "ugly," defending its reporting and saying the publication would not be intimidated by him.

“The Times’s reporting is accurate and built on first hand reporting of the facts," a spokesperson for the New York Times said in a statement shared on X.

"Name-calling and personal insults don't change that, nor will our journalists hesitate to cover this administration in the face of intimidation tactics like this. Expert and thorough reporters like Katie Rogers exemplify how an independent and free press helps the American people better understand their government and its leaders.”

The report pointed to Trump, 79, appearing to fall asleep during a White House event earlier this month, stating "his battery shows signs of wear."

It also claimed that Trump's schedule is down by 39 percent compared to the same period during his first year in office in 2017, with most events taking place between Midday and 5 p.m. It added that, while he is traveling more internationally, he is going on fewer domestic trips.

Trump has taken eight international trips this year, compared to four during the first year of his first term in office.

Responding to the report, Trump called the journalists "creeps," said he was not slowing down, and had recently had a "perfect physical exam."

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Why It Matters

The President's health has come under scrutiny this year, notably after pictures emerged of bruising to his right hand in February, July and August.

In July, the White House released a memo explaining that Trump had been diagnosed with chronic venous insufficiency (CVI), which his physician described as "benign and common."

In January, Trump became the oldest person inaugurated president of the United States. During his presidential campaign against Joe Biden, he frequently stated that his rival, who at the time was 81, was not mentally or physically capable of doing the job.

Trump insists energy levels remain high

Trump, who prides himself on his energy levels, responded to the Times article Wednesday morning with a lengthy Truth Social post in which he firmly rejected the suggestion he was slowing down and referred to the newspaper as an "enemy of the people."

"The Radical Left Lunatics in the soon to fold New York Times did a hit piece on me that I am perhaps losing my Energy, despite facts that show the exact opposite," he wrote.

Trump called out one of the journalists by name: "The writer of the story, Katie Rogers, who is assigned to write only bad things about me, is a third rate reporter who is ugly, both inside and out."

He ended the post by stating: "There will be a day when I run low on Energy, it happens to everyone, but with a PERFECT PHYSICAL EXAM AND A COMPREHENSIVE COGNITIVE TEST ("That was aced") JUST RECENTLY TAKEN, it certainly is not now! GOD BLESS AMERICA & MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!!!"

Trump's MRI scan

Earlier this month, Trump told reporters while on Air Force One Friday night that he had a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan as part of his "standard" physical last month and that "the result was outstanding."

The announcement again sparked speculation over his health, with no details given on the specific purpose of the MRI.

Trump said: "Getting an MRI is very standard. What, you think I shouldn't have it? Other people get it…I had an MRI. The doctor said it was the best result he has ever seen as a doctor."

When asked what the purpose of the scan was, he said: "I have no idea what they analyzed, but whatever they analyzed, they analyzed it well, and they said that I had as good a result as they've ever seen."

Trump has lost weight in recent years. In 2020, the year he was hospitaized with Covid, he weighed 244 pounds. This year, his weight was down to 224 pounds.

Karoline Leavitt, the White House press secretary, told the Times: "Unlike the Biden White House, who covered up Joe Biden’s cognitive decline and hid him from the press, President Trump and his entire team have been open and transparent about the president’s health, which remains exceptional."

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