In mid-February 2023, a number of Twitter accounts made the claim that the results of a health examination showed U.S. President Joe Biden was able to run a mile in five minutes and do 36 push-ups and 11 pull-ups.
One example tweet claimed, "President Biden did 36 push-ups, 11 pull-ups (not the type he wears) and ran a mile in just under 5 minutes according to the results of his physical fitness test."
This claim originated as satire and came from @MarcusGAnthony, a Twitter account that describes itself as a "Political jokester."
Many other accounts appeared to take the claim seriously, but it was clear that this was a satirical post, as we found no evidence that Biden was able to carry out these physical feats in his health report.
Released on Feb. 16, 2023, by the White House and signed by Kevin C. O'Connor, the president's physician, the report stated no such thing about Biden's physical capabilities. Instead, it pointed out that he "continues to work out at least five days per week." The report detailed some of Biden's minor health issues, which included non-valvular atrial fibrillation, a common type of irregular heartbeat, and hyperlipidemia, or high cholesterol. The most notable update since Biden's last physical in November 2021 was his coronavirus infection over the summer. O'Connor concluded that Biden was "a healthy, vigorous, 80-year-old male who is fit to successfully execute the duties of the Presidency."
Biden was spotted jogging back to the White House from Marine One after his physical. His health was a point of contention in the 2020 elections, and questions about his physical and mental fitness continue to linger ahead of his potential reelection bid in 2024.
We rate this claim as "Originated as Satire."
O'Connor, Kevin C. President Biden's Current Health Summary. 16 Feb. 2023, https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Health-Summary-2.16.pdf. Accessed 22 Feb. 2023.
Olorunnipa, Toluse, and Yasmeen Abutaleb. "Biden Remains 'Healthy, Vigorous,' Doctor Says after Physical Exam." Washington Post, 17 Feb. 2023. www.washingtonpost.com, https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2023/02/16/biden-physical-exam/. Accessed 22 Feb. 2023.
Twitter, https://twitter.com/MarcusGAnthony. Accessed 22 Feb. 2023.
Nur Nasreen Ibrahim is a reporter with experience working in television, international news coverage, fact checking, and creative writing.
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