Donald Trump’s doctor told NBC News he needed just five minutes to write a glowing medical endorsement of the Republican presidential candidate’s health while a limousine waited to carry the letter back to the billionaire.
Dr. Harold Bornstein spoke with NBC about the letter which was released by the Trump campaign in December that included the phrase: “If elected, Mr. Trump, I can state unequivocally, will be the healthiest individual ever elected to the presidency.”
During the interview Bornstein insisted he wrote the letter, which is dated Dec. 4, and said the Trump campaign sent a driver to pick up the letter.
“I thought about it all day and at the end, I get rushed, and I get anxious when I get rushed,” Bornstein said. “So I try to get four or five lines down as fast as possible so that they would be happy.
“I’ve got five minutes to sit right at this desk and write that letter while the driver waited for me.”
Trump, 70, would be the oldest man to serve in the White House if elected.
When asked by NBC News if the Trump letter was written in a style consistent with all his official letters, Bornstein replied: “No, but for Mr Trump, I wrote that letter that way.”
“I think I probably picked up his kind of language and then just interpreted it to my own,” he said.
Questions have been raised about the legitimacy and value of the letter as Trump and his allies have repeatedly pushed discredited conspiracy theories about Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton’s health.
READ MORE: Is Donald Trump’s attack on Hillary Clinton’s stamina sexist?
CNN health correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta questioned the value of Dr. Bornstein’s letter.
“I don’t even know what to make of this letter,” Gupta said. “Whether you are a doctor or not, that degree of hyperbole and these words being used is very unusual. People don’t write like that … ‘Strength and stamina are extraordinary’ … what does that mean, exactly?”
The New York Times stated the letter contained no details about his heart rate, respiratory rate, cholesterol level, past medications or family medical history.
Meanwhile Hillary Clinton appeared this week on Jimmy Kimmel Live to make light of Trump’s recent attacks against her by opening a pickle jar. Her physician has said the former secretary of state in excellent health and fit to serve as President of the United States.”
*With files from the Associated Press
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