Former President Bill Clinton was admitted to MedStar Georgetown University Hospital in Washington, D.C., on Monday after developing a fever. Angel Ureña, Clinton's deputy chief of staff, confirmed the news via a post on X (formerly Twitter), emphasizing that the 78-year-old is "in good spirits" and appreciates the care he is receiving.
"President Clinton was admitted to MedStar Georgetown University Hospital this afternoon for testing and observation after developing a fever," Ureña wrote. He added that Clinton is "doing fine" and anticipates being home by Christmas.
Sources close to the former president indicated the situation is not considered urgent. "He developed a fever and wanted to be checked out. He is awake and alert," a source told NBC News. Another insider shared with The New York Post that dehydration may have been a factor.
Clinton's current health scare follows a history of medical challenges since leaving office in 2001. In 2004, he underwent a quadruple heart bypass surgery, described at the time as a "relatively routine" procedure. Six years later, he had two stents inserted into a clogged artery. In 2021, he was hospitalized in California for a urinary tract infection that had spread to his bloodstream, requiring a week of treatment before his release.
The former president remains optimistic about returning home soon, with Ureña confirming his hope to celebrate Christmas with his family. Clinton has previously spoken about his holiday traditions, including spending Christmas Eve and Christmas Day with his daughter, Chelsea Clinton, and her family. In a 2021 interview with PEOPLE, he noted, "We always go down on Christmas Eve, spend the night, and have Christmas Day with them... Then we normally go to the train display at the Bronx Zoo. It's great."
This hospitalization comes as Clinton maintains a busy post-presidency schedule. He recently released a memoir titled Citizen: My Life After the White House and is set to publish a thriller novel co-written with James Patterson, The First Gentleman, next year. Additionally, he campaigned on behalf of Vice President Kamala Harris during her recent bid for the presidency.
Despite his health challenges, Clinton often speaks warmly about his role as a grandfather. During a recent appearance on Live with Kelly and Mark, he reflected on the joy of spending time with Chelsea's three children, Charlotte, 10, Aidan, 8, and Jasper, 5. "It's what Chelsea called Hillary's dad," Clinton explained of the moniker "Pop-Pop," which he now holds with pride. "We have a great time together. It's a good deal."
