New York Times, after Trump post, says it won’t be deterred from writing about his health

President Trump Clashes with New York Times Over Health Reports, Calls Media “Enemies of the People”

President Donald Trump has sharply criticized The New York Times for its reporting on his physical condition, calling such coverage “seditious, perhaps even treasonous” in a recent post on his Truth Social platform.

In his statement, the 79-year-old president labeled the Times and other media outlets as “true Enemies of the People,” suggesting that action should be taken against them. The remarks came in response to several recent articles examining his energy levels and public appearances.

“They are true Enemies of the People, and we should do something about it,” Trump wrote, without specifying what actions he was contemplating.

The New York Times has published multiple reports in recent weeks analyzing the president’s health and stamina. A November 25 story titled “Shorter Days, Signs of Fatigue: Trump Faces Realities of Aging in Office” examined his public appearances and travel schedules, concluding that Americans were seeing less of the president than in previous periods.

Another report from December 2 claimed that Trump “appeared to be fighting sleep” during a Cabinet meeting. Opinion columnist Frank Bruni further explored these observations in a December 8 piece, suggesting Trump might be giving “President Joe Biden vibes” – a pointed comparison to his predecessor whose debate performance and questions about fitness led to Biden withdrawing from the 2024 presidential race.

Trump forcefully rejected these characterizations in his social media post, describing himself as history’s hardest-working president with numerous accomplishments. He defended his health, stating he had undergone “long, thorough and very boring” medical examinations, including cognitive tests which he claimed to have “ACED.”

“The New York Times, and some others, like to pretend that I am ‘slowing up,’ and maybe not as sharp as I once was, or am in poor physical health, knowing that it is not true,” the president wrote.

Presidential health has long been a complex and sensitive area of coverage for the American press. Historical precedents include Grover Cleveland’s secret tumor surgery, Woodrow Wilson’s debilitating stroke, Franklin D. Roosevelt’s polio, and Dwight D. Eisenhower’s heart attack – all situations where the full extent of presidential health issues wasn’t immediately disclosed to the public.

This latest clash occurs against the backdrop of Trump’s already contentious relationship with the media. He currently has a $15 billion defamation lawsuit pending against the Times, filed in September, which targets four journalists over articles discussing his finances. The president has also been involved in legal actions against other major news organizations, including The Associated Press and CBS News.

Nicole Taylor, a spokeswoman for The New York Times, defended the newspaper’s reporting, stating that their coverage of Trump’s health “is heavily sourced, based on interviews with people close to the president and with medical experts.”

“Americans deserve in-depth reporting and regular updates about the health of the leaders they elect,” Taylor said. “Mr. Trump welcomed our reporting on the age and fitness of his predecessors; we’re applying the same journalistic scrutiny to his vitality.”

Taylor emphasized that the newspaper would not be intimidated by “false and inflammatory language that distorts the role of a free press.”

The escalating tension between Trump and the media highlights ongoing debates about press freedom, presidential accountability, and the public’s right to information about the health and fitness of their elected leaders – particularly as age becomes an increasingly prominent factor in American politics.