Trump said he connected Florida Rep. Neal Dunn, 73, with White House doctors to get the congressman top-tier treatment for a "terminal" heart condition
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NEED TO KNOW
- President Donald Trump revealed that Republican Rep. Neal Dunn was on track to be “dead by June” due to a dangerous “heart” condition before receiving treatment from White House doctors
- During a press briefing at the Kennedy Center on Monday, March 16, Trump asked House Speaker Mike Johnson to say a few words about Dunn’s private health challenges
- Johnson claimed that although Dunn had a “terminal” diagnosis, Trump roped in White House doctors who helped give the Florida congressman a “new lease on life”
President Donald Trump revealed private information about a Republican lawmaker’s health during a press briefing at the Kennedy Center.
During a luncheon with the Kennedy Center’s board members on Monday, March 16, Trump began speaking about a lawmaker, who he initially didn't name. He turned to House Speaker Mike Johnson and prompted him to tell the story, at which point Johnson revealed that the "very ill" lawmaker was 73-year-old Florida Rep. Neal Dunn.
“Do you want to mention it? He’ll be proud,” Trump, 79, said as he turned to Johnson.
“Congressman Neal Dunn of Florida had some health challenges and it was very serious… a pretty grim diagnosis,” Johnson, 54, said.
“I mentioned it to the president," he added. "Congressman Dunn is a real champion and a patriot because he’s still coming to work and if others got this diagnosis they would opt to go home and retire."
Credit: AP Photo/Paul Vernon
Trump then interjected, saying, “What was the diagnosis?”
“I think it was a terminal diagnosis,” Johnson replied.
“He would be dead by June,” the president stated, followed by Johnson responding, “OK, that wasn’t public.”
Trump then jumped in and said that Dunn's diagnosis involved a “heart problem.”
“Long story short, the president called him to encourage him and thank him and they had a conversation,” Johnson added, noting that Trump opted to get the White House Medical Unit involved in Dunn's treatment.
“Within a number of hours they took him to… emergency surgery and the man has a new lease on life,” Johnson said. “He acts like he’s 30 years younger… He walked into the conference meeting and we thought we’d seen a ghost.”
Trump continued the topic of Dunn, saying the congressman had personally told him he was “terminal” with a “really bad heart.”
The president said that doctors originally told Dunn “there’s nothing they can do,” before the president "realized" he had his own White House doctors and could tap into their resources.
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Trump said he was troubled by the diagnosis both personally and politically.
“It was bad because I liked him,” Trump said. “Number two, it was bad because I needed his vote,” the president continued, as Johnson let out a laugh.
Trump went on to say that Dunn had told Johnson, “However long I live I’m gonna be voting for you.”
Although the president wanted to make it clear that he got the White House doctors involved for Dunn's own well-being first and foremost, he also acknowledged the razor-thin majority that Republicans have in the House right now.
“I did it for him first and for the vote second,” he said. “But it was a close second actually, but I did it for the vote second.”
PEOPLE reached out to Dunn’s office for comment on the status of his health.
Dunn, who joined Congress in 2017, is not seeking reelection in the 2026 midterms and will retire when his current term ends in January.
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