Donald Trump: Physical Stamina

Mental and physical exhaustion
"Exhaustion" is the opposite of stamina. It can be physical or mental. Trump's mental stamina is compromised by his sleep habits and, most probably, by his sleep physiology, as discussed in a separate entry.

Trump and his team have exaggerated his physical stamina SEE BELOW, not acknowledging the multiple occasions on which he had exceeded his energy reserves, most notably his May 2017 trip to Europe MORE.

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He, of course, describes impressive stamina, saying, while campaigning in 2016, "I feel as good today as I did when I was 30" 1.

Objectively, Trump's only form of exercise is golf, but he habitually rides in a golf cart, even driving the cart onto the green (a major violation of golf etiquette) in 2017 to save walking a few feet 2. Trump's physician has encouraged more exercise 3, but Trump has demurred 4 5.

In January 2018 he underwent a treadmill exercise test as part of his annual physical examination. Quantitative results were not disclosed, but his physician reported "above average exercise capacity based on age and sex" 6. Trump offered a typically bombastic description:

I was on a treadmill for the first time actually in quite a while, and it was at a very steep angle, and I was there for a very long time. ... They were surprised. And they said, "Well you can stop now, that's amazing." And I said, "I can go much longer than this if you want me to." 4
Comment: This statement is a complete crock and a prime example of Trumpgas. As a cardiologist, Dr. Zebra knows first-hand that no one wins against the treadmill unless they are an elite distance runner -- which Trump is assuredly not. Shameless outright prevarication.

Given that Trump was at or close to exhaustion on an international trip in May 2017 MORE, this statement from the presidential physician in January 2018 is seen to be an exaggeration, too 3:

One of the things, being with the President on a day-to-day basis, that has been impressive to me is he has a lot of energy -- a lot of energy and a lot of stamina.

And I think I first noticed that -- we traveled, did some overseas travel last year. And I was really surprised because I didn't know the President early on. And the days -- we'd get these 14-, 16-hour days, and the staff is just spent after a while. And you're just like, man, when are we going to the hotel? When are we going down? Because you have all the issues of different time zones and things of that nature, too.

And I'll tell you, out of everybody there, the President had more stamina and more energy than just about anybody there. He was the one that was always like, we're not going to skip this event, we're going to do this, we're going to do that, and stuck to the schedule despite the urging of some of us to let's just forget the rest of the day.

Cited Sources
  1. Cillizza, Chris; Blake, Aaron. Donald Trump's interview with Dr. Oz was just as amazingly strange as we thought it would be. (Published 15 September, 2016. Downloaded on 2019-12-01.) Available on the web: https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-fix/wp/2016/09/15/donald-trumps-visit-with-dr-oz-was-just-as-amazing-as-you-though-it-would-be/

    Comment: Also includes annotations by Cillizza and Blake. Their interview transcript is archived here: MORE

  2. Dicker, Ron. Donald Trump Breaks Golden Rule By Driving Golf Cart On Green. (Published 22 June 2017. Downloaded on 2019-12-01.) Available on the web: https://www.huffpost.com/entry/donald-trump-breaks-golden-rule-by-driving-golf-cart-on-green_n_594be9d1e4b0312cfb629cc5
  3. Sanders, Sarah; Jackson Ronny. Press Briefing by Press Secretary Sarah Sanders and Dr. Ronny Jackson. (Published 16 Jan. 2018. Downloaded on 2019-12-28.) Available on the web: https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefings-statements/press-briefing-by-press-secretary-sarah-sanders-and-dr-ronny-jackson-01162018/

    Comment: A transcript of the press briefing is archived here --> MORE

  4. Mason, Jeff; Holland, Steve. Exclusive: Exercise? I get more than people think, Trump says. (Published 17 Jan. 2018. Downloaded on 2019-12-26.) Available on the web: https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-trump-fitness/exclusive-exercise-i-get-more-than-people-think-trump-says-idUSKBN1F633B
  5. Keneally, Meghan. Trump sums up his workout routine: "I walk, I this, I that". (Published 18 Jan. 2018. Downloaded on 2019-12-26.) Available on the web: https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/trump-sums-workout-routine-walk/story?id=52434401
  6. Jackson, Ronny L. (M.D.). The President's Periodic Physical Exam. (Published January 16, 2018. Downloaded on 2019-11-21.) Available on the web: https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/Summary-of-Physical-Exam-for-President-Trump-12-Jan-2018.pdf

    Comment: The document is archived here -->   MORE. Also highly informative is the press briefing where the report was delivered: MORE.


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