BURSTFormer Biden administration aide Meghan Hays on Monday argued the Trump administration is not being “transparent” about President Trump's absence from public events in recent days, citing potential health concerns.
“I think in August he spent 26 days doing public events or talking to press. So, to go down for six days and just have a slew of Truth Social posts that are very chaotic, and people can't follow all of them is very concerning,” Hays said during an appearance on CNN’s “The Lead.”
“And I think that people have raised the question. The president could just be taking a few days down in August, which is normal for presidents to do. Or there could be actually something wrong," she told host Phil Mattingly. "The problem is we don't know and they're not being transparent about it."
Trump was spotted over the Labor Day weekend at his golf club in Sterling, Va., after he cleared his schedule of public events for several days in a row. His posts online have focused primarily on the administration's crackdown on crime in D.C. and plans to expand to other cities, including Chicago. He has also written about gas prices, the economy and shared a graphic that said "America is Hot" with flames surrounding a photo of himself.
Questions around his health have swirled since the White House announced earlier this year that the president, 79, suffered from chronic venous insufficiency — a condition that causes swelling in the legs and noticeable bruising on the hands.
The president's bruises, which are typically covered with makeup, were visible during last week's Cabinet meeting, also raising eyebrows. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt has previously said repeated hand shaking and the use of aspirin can make conditions worsen.
"This is a well-known and benign side effect of aspirin therapy," Leavitt told reporters in July. "The president remains in excellent health, which I think all of you witness on a daily basis here.”
Trump on Sunday told reporters that he's "never felt better" after rumors were spread that his health was keeping him out of the public eye. The speculation was also exacerbated after Vice President Vance told USA Today in an interview last week that he was prepared to take over should something happen to the president.
“Yes, terrible tragedies happen,” he said. “But I feel very confident the president of the United States is in good shape, is going to serve out the remainder of his term and do great things for the American people.”
“And if, God forbid, there’s a terrible tragedy, I can’t think of better on-the-job training than what I’ve gotten over the last 200 days,” he added at the time.
Eric Trump, the president's son, also brushed off the concerns, characterizing it as a plot fueled by the left.
“The radical left is so sick and twisted…,” the younger Trump wrote in a statement on social platform X, in response to a report that said some were sharing rumors that his father passed away.
The Hill reached out to the White House for comment.