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Clinton: I Didn't Think Pneumonia Diagnosis Would Be a Big Deal

September 12, 2016

Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton told CNN anchor Anderson Cooper on Monday night that she didn't think that her pneumonia diagnosis would be a "big deal."

Clinton nearly collapsed on Sunday as she was leaving a September 11 memorial event in New York City. Her campaign released a statement over an hour later saying that she was feeling  overheated, but then her campaign later announced that she had been diagnosed with pneumonia two days earlier.

David Axelrod, chief strategist for Barack Obama's two presidential campaigns, criticized Clinton on Monday on Twitter for her campaign not disclosing the diagnosis on Friday.

Cooper asked Clinton about Axelrod's criticism and why she told Sen. Chuck Schumer (D., N.Y.) about her pneumonia on Sunday morning, but didn't tell the press or public.

"Well, I just didn't think it was going to be that big a deal. I know Chuck said today he didn't tell anybody. It's just the kind of thing that if it happens to you and you're a busy, active person, you keep moving forward," Clinton said.

Clinton also justified her campaign's actions by saying she was one of the most transparent people in public life.

"They've got 40 years of my tax returns, tens of thousands of emails, a detailed medical letter report, all kinds of personal details. And you know, it's just so strange that with all of that information out there, and as soon as it became clear I couldn't power through, we said what was going on," Clinton said.

Clinton's spokespeople Robby Mook, Brian Fallon, and Kristin Schake repeated the "power through" talking point several times on Monday regarding Clinton's health to justify their lack of transparency on her diagnosis.