By Rubio says concerns over Trump’s health ‘absurd and ridiculous’
Secretary of State Marco Rubio says Donald Trump works “inhumane hours”. (Reuters: Evan Vucci)
In short:
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has told a congressional committee questions around Donald Trump’s mental acuity are “absurd and ridiculous”.
Mr Rubio sought to defend his boss amidst growing public concerns about the US president’s mental and physical fitness.
What’s next?
Mr Trump has publicly floated that he could see JD Vance and Mr Rubio running as a team for president in 2028.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has brushed off suggestions that Donald Trump was regularly dozing off during cabinet meetings, as questions persist over the health of the oldest US president ever inaugurated.
Testifying during a congressional hearing, Mr Rubio was shown several video clips where Mr Trump, 79, is seen with his eyes apparently closed while Mr Rubio spoke beside him.
“I don’t even know how to respond to that, other than to tell you that it’s absurd and ridiculous,” Mr Rubio told the House Foreign Affairs Committee.
“You may not like his policies, you may not like the decisions he’s made. But I assure you, this is not a president that sleeps or is cognitively impaired in any way, shape, or form,” he said.
“And in fact is incredibly active, much more so in many cases than much younger people that are around him. Those are facts.”
Mr Rubio defended Mr Trump, saying the US leader works non-stop and gets very little sleep.
“I talk to him at all hours of the day and night. He works inhumane hours,”
Mr Rubio said.
During the hearings, Marco Rubio was shown clips of the US president appearing to fall asleep in appearances together. (Reuters: Evelyn Hockstein)
Mr Trump, who turns 80 on June 14, has largely avoided the scrutiny over age and fitness that shadowed Joe Biden toward the end of his term, with the Democrat prone to falls and occasional verbal stumbles.
Mr Trump’s doctors declared him to be in “excellent health” after his latest check-up last week, but advised him to lose weight.
Despite the administration’s declarations, questions about the US president’s fitness persist.
A recent Washington Post/ABC News/Ipsos poll found that 59 per cent of respondents believed Trump lacked the mental capacity to lead the country, while 55 per cent said he lacked the physical health to do so.
Mr Trump has maintained a lighter public schedule in recent months than he did at the start of his second term.
Mr Rubio’s strident defence of the US president’s health before the congressional committee came on the same day Mr Trump touted the secretary of state as a potential vice presidential candidate for the upcoming 2028 elections.
Appearing on an episode of the Pod Force One podcast, Mr Trump said a ticket comprised of current Vice President JD Vance and Mr Rubio would be “hard to beat”.
But he would not be drawn on who out of the two he would prefer to be the Republican nominee for president.
AFP
Originally published on www.abc.net.au — View original