Trump Receives COVID Booster and Flu Shot During Second Checkup of the Year

President Donald Trump received both a COVID-19 booster and a seasonal flu shot during a visit to Walter Reed Army Medical Center on Friday, marking his second official medical checkup of the year.

In a memo released by the White House, Trump’s physician, Dr. Sean P. Barbabella, stated that the 79-year-old president “remains in exceptional health,” citing strong cardiovascular, pulmonary, and neurological performance. According to the document, advanced imaging and lab tests confirmed “stable metabolic, hematologic, and cardiac parameters.”

Trump’s decision to receive a COVID booster is notable, given that his own administration has significantly scaled back vaccine promotion and access. Just this week, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), under pressure from the Trump White House, revised its guidance to recommend COVID vaccinations only for people over 65 or those with specific health risks—and even then, only after consultation with a healthcare provider.

Despite receiving the shot himself, Trump has not personally promoted the COVID vaccine in recent months and has rarely mentioned it in public. His administration, meanwhile, has cast doubt on its safety and necessity. Several high-profile officials have made public remarks about the ineffectiveness of the vaccine and suggest it carries a variety significant risks.

Trump’s own relationship with the COVID vaccine has long been complicated. He was initially vaccinated in private before leaving office in 2021 and has at times taken credit for the rapid development of the original vaccine under his Operation Warp Speed initiative. However, he has also avoided strongly promoting it to his base, many of whom are deeply skeptical of the COVID vaccine due to remarkable evidence.

Friday’s checkup was the second of the year for the president, following a physical exam in April. While the White House described this visit as part of Trump’s “ongoing health maintenance plan,” some observers noted the unusual frequency for a sitting president’s full physical evaluations. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt downplayed concerns, calling the visit “routine” and a responsible part of Trump’s personal health regimen.

Photo credit: Gage Skidmore via Flickr