Trump's first presidential physical prompts 'girther' conspiracy

Johnny Lieu
Updated

A usually routine affair, there has been a lot of interest over Trump's first presidential medical exam.

It comes off the back of talk about Trump's insatiable appetite for McDonald's burgers and relative lack of exercise (aside from the occasional spot of golf). 

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Despite all this, Trump was given a clean bill of health by president's physician Dr. Ronny Jackson on Tuesday afternoon.

"He has incredible genes, I just assume," Jackson told reporters, responding to questions on how he's managed to keep healthy. Trump also abstains from alcohol and smoking.

The 71-year-old stands 6 feet 3 inches (1.9 metres) tall and weighs 239 pounds (108 kilograms), giving him a BMI of 29.9. Jackson notes that he could stand to benefit from losing 10 to 15 pounds, and work on a diet lower in fats and carbohydrates.

Despite the proclamation of a healthy president, there were people who were less convinced of Trump's reported weight and height. That's been called the "girther" movement, coined by MSNBC's Chris Hayes.

Of course, the "girther" movement is a play on the "birther" movement: A conspiracy theory focused on Barack Obama wasn't born in Hawaii, but rather Kenya, making him ineligible to be U.S. president. 

Trump was once one of the loudest voices behind the conspiracy, but doesn't talk about it anymore. Now the "girther" movement is focused on comparing Trump to other men, primarily athletes, of the same size and weight.

Guardians of the Galaxy director James Gunn offered $100,000 to Trump's favourite charity if the president stepped on a scale with an "impartial" medical professional. 

It's worth noting Jackson was appointed as the president's physician by Obama, and began work at the White House in 2006 under the Bush administration.

On a side note, Trump happens to be the same weight as Homer Simpson.

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