A Democratic lawmaker's "curious" theory about President Donald Trump's health forced an official White House denial.
Rep. Sydney Kamlager-Dove (D-CA) tweeted last week that the 79-year-old president is showing signs he’s taking the Alzheimer’s disease drug Leqembi, and The Daily Beast's Farrah Tomazin asked White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt to comment on the congresswoman's evidence.
“The Alzheimer’s drug Leqembi: Is administered through an infusion (for example, through the hand); Can cause swelling, bleeding, or fluid leakage in the brain, requiring regular MRIs; Can cause tiredness," Kamlager-Dove had posted on Dec. 4. "Curious.”
When pressed on the topic Thursday, Leavitt claimed the president “is constantly shaking hands” because “the Oval Office is like Grand Central Terminal,” and added that he takes aspirin daily, but the press secretary declined to answer specific questions about Trump's disclosure that he had undergone three cognitive tests.
“I’m not a doctor, but I do think it’s curious that [Trump’s] drowsiness and visible bruising on his hands are consistent with known symptoms and side effects of Alzheimer’s medications like Leqembi,” Kamlager-Dove told the Daily Beast after the press briefing.
She also reposted a screenshot of her previous post speculating about the president taking Leqembi, which is listed at $26,500 a year and promises to slow down progression of the disease but does not reverse it.
“Hey, I’m just asking questions,” Kamlager-Dove wrote, adding another screenshot of Trump's rambling Truth Social post boasting that he had aced three dementia tests and warned it was “treasonous” to question his health.
The White House issued an official denial of the congresswoman's claims.
“It seems as if the Congresswoman has not been taking her medication because she is hallucinating, distorting reality in a clearly troublesome state that requires urgent medical care,” White House spokesperson Steven Cheung told the Daily Beast.
Trump's father, Fred Trump, suffered from Alzheimer's disease, which puts the president at risk, and, as Kamlager-Dove pointed out, he has displayed some of the known side effects of Leqembi, which can delay the onset of severe cognitive decline by five months.
The president's right hand has consistently shown bruising, which is conspicuously covered by makeup, and he has acknowledged MRI exams, which patients would undergo regularly to check for brain swelling and microhemorrhages.
"Leqembi patients may also experience fatigue, particularly after an injection," The Daily Beast reported. "The president has noticeably struggled to stay awake during public appearances and meetings for weeks. The Alzheimer’s Association says Alzheimer’s patients may experience difficulty sleeping and take daytime naps."
"Those close to Trump have tried to praise his fitness by boasting about how he rarely sleeps," the report added.