At a recent campaign event in Atlanta, Georgia, Donald Trump was criticized for slurring his words and rambling while ridiculing Vice President Kamala Harris.
During his speech, he made a jest about Harris requiring a teleprompter before embarking on a perplexing digression regarding "kick-backs."
"You know, it kicked back in, it's called a kick-back," he informed the audience, who could be heard chuckling, OK! Magazine reported. "Like some people know a lot about a kick-back. It's called a kick-back. They know in this administration. But no, it's a kick-back, it kicks back in."
Critics on X criticized the former president for frequently targeting the health of his political opponents, even though he has repeatedly raised concerns about his cognitive abilities, as the clip of Trump's rambling tirade circulated on social media.
"He is back to slurring his words. Release the cognitive tests!" according to one user.
"It’s funny how just a few months ago, MAGA was shouting about Biden’s supposed cognitive decline, but now they’re eerily silent as Trump struggles to stay coherent on stage. His flitting, rambling speeches seem to fly under the radar when it suits their narrative," a second individual commented.
Trump's assertion that the election was 32 days away was incorrect. As noted by numerous other users, it was 21 days away at the time of the event.
This occurred just days after Trump suggested on his Truth Social platform that Harris "pass a test on cognitive stamina and agility" to demonstrate her eligibility to serve as President of the United States, as per The Daily Mail.
"She is slow and lethargic in answering even the easiest of questions," he indicated. "We just went through almost four years of that, we shouldn’t have to do it again!"
The 78-year-old also encountered backlash after inexplicably suggesting that Harris may not be healthy enough to serve as president following the release of recently disclosed medical records that verified her history of seasonal allergies, The New York Times reported.
"According to her Doctor’s Report, she suffers from 'urticaria,' defined as 'a rash of round, red welts on the skin that itch intensely, sometimes with dangerous swelling,'" he wrote in an article for Truth Social.
"She also has 'allergic rhinitis and allergic conjunctivitis,' a very messy and dangerous situation. These are deeply serious conditions that clearly impact her functioning. Maybe that is why she can’t answer even the simplest of questions asked by 60 Minutes, and others. What is this all about? I don’t have these problems…"
Nevertheless, urticaria, or "hives," is a prevalent allergic reaction that impacts 20% of the population, as per The American College of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology. Generally benign, conjunctivitis is frequently called "pink eye" and can be caused by allergies or infection. Rhinitis, called "hay fever," is not considered a severe medical condition.
To recall, Vice President Kamala Harris published a letter from her White House physician last week, who stated that she is in "excellent health" and is successfully managing some minor health difficulties. The White House issued the letter.
The physician to the vice president, Joshua R. Simmons, noted that Ms. Harris, who is 59 years old, suffers from seasonal allergies, slight nearsightedness, and skin rashes, all of which she addresses with medicine that is available over-the-counter and may be obtained with a prescription.
"Vice President Harris continues to be in excellent health," Dr. Simmons wrote in a letter that was two pages long and appeared to be a summary but was not a comprehensive medical assessment. According to the statement, "She possesses the physical and mental resiliency that is required to successfully execute the duties of the presidency, including those of chief executive, head of state, and commander in chief."
Dr. Simmons reported Harris has never suffered from any of the following conditions: diabetes, high cholesterol, heart disease, cancer, osteoporosis, or neurological diseases.
The revelation of Harris's medical records comes at a time when her opponent, former President Donald J. Trump, the oldest person ever to become a presidential nominee at the age of 78, has refused to divulge similar fundamental health information. There has been no indication that either of the candidates for the White House has permitted journalists to ask their physicians more questions.
Campaign-season medical reports are frequently utilized to create the most positive picture possible of a candidate for office. This is because presidential candidates are not required to release their health records, and their medical information is just as private as that of any other citizen.
With only a few weeks left until the day of the election, the campaign of Harris is attempting to draw a contrast between the disclosure of her medical records and the unwillingness of Trump to do the same to raise questions about the health of her opponent.
Business Times has reached out to Donald Trump and Kamala Harris for comments.
