Donald Trump claimed a White House physician told him that he is a “better physical specimen” than former President Barack Obama.
Trump made the bizarre comment on Saturday while speaking at the 153rd Annual National Rifle Association meeting in Dallas, Texas.
The former president told attendees about an alleged conversation in the White House where former White House physician turn GOP Congressman, Rep. Ronny Jackson (R-TX) was asked to compare his health to former President Obama’s.
“When he was the doctor at the White House they asked him who is healthier, who is a better physical specimen, is it Donald Trump, or is it Obama? He said it is not even close, Donald Trump, not even close, I said I love this guy, Dr. Ronny Jackson,” Trump said.
Jackson, who infamously said Trump could live to be 200-years-old if he had a better diet, left the Navy in 2019 then won an election to represent Texas’ 13th Congressional District in 2020.
He was demoted by the Navy in 2022 from rear admiral to captain following a damaging Pentagon inspector general’s report that substantiated allegations about his inappropriate behavior as a White House physician.
Jackson reportedly mistreated subordinates, used alcohol during presidential trips while in charge of providing medical care and treatment to U.S. officials and took sleeping pills on the job. He also handed out drugs to staff while ignoring proper procedure, earning him the nickname “candyman”.
