The American public shouldn't expect to hear any adverse results from President Joe Biden's annual physical, because, from a national security perspective, it would be harmful to let U.S. enemies know of any serious medical issues, Dr. Jerome Adams, who served under former President Donald Trump as surgeon general, said Thursday on Newsmax.
"This goes back decades to the time of [Richard] Nixon, presidents releasing the results of their annual physical, but it is not required and, to be honest with your viewers, it has largely become political theater," Adams, now the health equity director at Purdue University, told Newsmax's "Wake Up America." "We know in most cases, they're not disclosing anything negative."
Biden, 80, will have his tests at the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland, on Thursday. Adams said he doesn't expect any information to be released that isn't already known.
Asked if a cognitive test should be given to Biden because of his age, Adams noted that Trump was the first president to undergo such tests, and he released the results.
However, with Biden, Adams said he not only doesn't think any information on cognitive testing will be released for Biden, he doesn't think minds will be changed on that issue.
Adams, a former vice admiral in the Public Health Service, said that considering the national security implications, he doesn't think that it would be a good idea for the country if sensitive information about Biden's medical history is released.
"I do think it's an important question for us to ask, and I think the president's going to have to continue to show the country that he is capable of doing the job," said Adams.
Adams, though, said that there is one "big take-home point" for viewers, and that's to be sure to get annual physicals.
"Make sure you're uncovering anything that you might be able to treat, like uncontrolled high blood pressure," Adams said. "It's Heart Awareness Month right now. Make sure you're getting your colonoscopy, your prostate checked, or your breast exams. We should celebrate this opportunity for us to pay attention to our own house."
Adams on Thursday also discussed researchers' work on a universal flu vaccine that would protect against all strains of influenza, saying the project is "long overdue" and should be pursued if possible.
"We know that with Operation Warp Speed, we were able to develop a vaccine in less than a year for COVID, but that it took a tremendous amount of political will and funding," Adams said.
While U.S. flu numbers are now at a lower level, Adams noted that 18,000 people have died this year from the virus.
"We've had over 100 children die from the flu," he said. "It's not too late to get your flu vaccine … wash your hands, and stay home if you're sick. Cover your mouth when you sneeze. You don't want to get the flu. You don't want to be one of those unfortunate people who end up in the hospital or worse."
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Sandy Fitzgerald ✉
Sandy Fitzgerald has more than three decades in journalism and serves as a general assignment writer for Newsmax covering news, media, and politics.
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