Former White House doctor for Bush, Obama, Trump urges Biden to take cognitive test – Stars and Stripes

(Tribune News Service) The former White House doctor who gave a glowing report in 2018 about then-PresidentDonald Trumpscognitive abilities is calling on PresidentJoe Bidento take the same test.

U.S.Rep.Ronny Jackson, R-Texas, led a group of 14Republicanswho sent Biden a letter on Thursday urging him to take a cognitive test and make the results public.

The freshman Congressman served asWhite Housephysician under former presidentsGeorge W. Bush,Barack Obamaand Trump. In 2018, he gave Trump a clean bill of health after an annual physical and cognitive test that came amid questions about Trumps mental fitness to serve.

At the time, Jackson said it was the first instance he knew of a cognitive test being administered to a sitting president, saying Trump was mentally very sharp.

We believe that, regardless of gender, age, or political party, all presidents should follow the precedent set by formerPresident Trumpto document and demonstrate sound mental abilities, Jackson and his Republican colleagues wrote in theirJune 17letter to Biden.

The Trump campaign made Bidens mental fitness a major piece of its 2020 campaign. In campaign ads and rallies, Trump sought to paint Biden as mentally unfit to serve. His mental fitness has been a regular target for misinformation spreading online.

Biden, 78, is the oldest president in American history.

TheWhite Housedid not immediately respond to a request for comment. Biden has bristled at questions about his mental capabilities. Bidens doctor released a medical report inDecember 2019in which he described Biden as healthy, vigorous and fit to successfully execute the duties of the presidency, according to The Associated Press. NBC News reported the report did not mention mental deficiencies.

Jackson said in a prepared statement that it is past time that Biden submit to a cognitive test.

The American people deserve to have absolute confidence in their president, he said in the statement. They deserve to know that he or she can perform the duties demanded of the office, and they deserve to have full transparency on the mental state of their highest elected leader.

Jackson claimed Biden has shown clear mental impairment.

Jackson was elected last year inTexas13th Congressional district. Trump nominated Jackson, aNavyrear admiral, to serve as secretary of theDepartment of Veterans Affairsin 2018, but he withdrew from consideration amid allegations of misconduct, including drinking on the job and contributing to a hostile work environment.

The other 13Republicanswho signed the letter are:

*U.S.Rep.Bob Gibbs, ofOhio*U.S.Rep.Jeff Duncan, ofSouth Carolina*U.S.Rep.Andy Harris, ofMaryland*U.S.Rep.Brian Babin, ofTexas*U.S.Rep.Jody Hice, ofGeorgia*U.S.Rep.Claudia Tenney, ofNew York*U.S.Rep.W. Gregory Steube, ofFlorida*U.S.Rep.Tom Tiffany, ofWisconsin*U.S.Rep.Kat Cammack, ofFlorida*U.S.Rep.Jerry Carl, ofAlabama*U.S.Rep.Pat Fallon, ofTexas*U.S.Rep.Diana Harsbarger, ofTennessee*U.S.Rep.Beth Van Duyne, ofTexas

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Former White House doctor for Bush, Obama, Trump urges Biden to take cognitive test - Stars and Stripes

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