White House physician Dr. Ronny Jackson explained the source of President Donald Trump's "excellent health" on Tuesday after a reporter questioned how he can be healthy with his reported eating and exercise habits.
"Tell me how a guy who eats McDonald's and Kentucky Fried Chicken and all those Diet Cokes and never exercises is in as good a shape as you say he is in," ABC News reporter Jonathan Karl said.
Jackson cited "genetics," saying some people "have incredible genes."
"I told the president that if he had a healthier diet over the last 20 years, he might live to be 200 years old. I don't know," Jackson said jocularly. "He has incredible genes, I just assume. If I didn't watch what I ate, I wouldn't have the cardiac and overall health that he has, so he's very healthy despite those things and I don't think that he does that anymore."
He went on to say that Trump has been eating a healthier diet–what the White House chefs cook for him–since becoming president.
The question on how Trump stays healthy came during a press briefing to discuss the results of the president's periodic physical examination. Jackson also reported Trump's "overall health is excellent" and he preformed "exceedingly well" on a cognitive function screening assessment, which the president asked be conducted.
Jackson, a Navy rear admiral, was first selected to be the White House physician in 2006 and has since served in the administrations of George W. Bush, Barack Obama, and now Trump
This year's exam was heavily scrutinized following speculation by the media and Trump's critics who questioned his fitness for office. CNN and MSNBC have speculated about Trump's health for months, focusing on his reported Diet Coke habit and questioning his mental state.