President Trump's Medical Exam Is Spawning a Conspiracy Movement of 'Girther' Naysayers
President Donald Trump’s medical exam this week should have put to rest any questions about the president’s fitness — from his high-calorie diet to his cognitive function — with White House physician Dr. Ronny Jackson declaring the president in “excellent” health. But the results of the checkup, which measured Trump at 6’3? and 239 lbs., are being contested online by a conspiracy movement of “girthers,” who cast doubt on Trump’s official height and weight.
The president’s proportions have been the source of speculation before. Trump widely describes himself as 6’3? tall, but his driver’s license lists him at 6’2?, Politico reported in 2016. That extra inch would define him as “overweight” instead of “obese” according to the Body Mass Index, one girther claimed.
Doubters took to Twitter to express their suspicion of Trump’s dimensions.
Has anyone coined "girther" for those who belive the president weighs more than his doctor reports?
— Chris Hayes (@chrislhayes) January 16, 2018
For the record, @realDonaldTrump said he was 74 inches in 2012. Now his doctor says he's 75 inches. And that one inch makes is BMI "overweight" not "obese." I'm a #girther because old men don't GROW an inch! pic.twitter.com/ehNxF9PjPL
— Gersh Kuntzman (@GershKuntzman) January 16, 2018
Other users compared the President’s height to other public figures and similarly proportioned athletes to doubt the measurements.
A picture of a 6’3” man standing next to a 6’1” man and their wives. pic.twitter.com/VmnLjHfvMq
— James Gunn (@JamesGunn) January 17, 2018
Jay Cutler is 6'3, 233 lbs. No way Donald Trump is 6'3 239 lbs. #Girther pic.twitter.com/IECM6N9J7d
— SpinDoctor (@SpinDr) January 16, 2018
L: Vikings running back Latavius Murray. R: Donald Trump. Both listed officially at 6'3"/235 lbs. #Girther pic.twitter.com/nGEB0VdK33
— Dennis Perkins (@DennisPerkins5) January 16, 2018
#Girther All three are 6'3" and weigh 239 pic.twitter.com/OtGFnwJC1a
— ???????????? Nanci ???????????? (@nanci_wissler) January 17, 2018