The Trump incidents that have sparked health fears

Donald Trump is approaching the end of his first year back at the White House (Image: Getty)

Donald Trump is approaching the end of his first year as US President. The 79-year-old has lost no time in implementing his policy agenda to "Make America Great Again", including his bold implementation of trade tariffs.

His economic medicine appears to be reaping rich rewards, as stock markets surge and consumers splash the cash. New data from the US Commerce Department show the gross domestic product grew at an annual rate of 4.3% in the third quarter, fuelled by steady consumer spending. This was much faster than the 3.8% expansion seen between April and June.

Donald Trump met with Ursula von der Leyen in July (Image: Getty)

On the international front, Trump has achieved some notable successes, notably helping to bring peace to the Middle East through his Gaza deal.

The US President's multiple domestic and foreign policy successes have left his opponents floundering and with very little ammunition to counter his achievements.

Trump's detractors, though, have tried to raise questions about his physical and mental health in a desperate bid to discredit him.

Below, the Express provides a brief examination of some of the so-called evidence being cited to question Trump's fitness to rule.

Eyebrows were raised in July when the US President shared a story about how his uncle, the late Professor John Trump, had taught the Unabomber, Ted Kaczynski, at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).

Trump recalled: “I said: ‘What kind of a student was he, Uncle John? Dr John Trump.’ I said: ‘What kind of a student?’ And then he said: ‘Seriously, good.’ He said: ‘He’d correct – he’d go around correcting everybody.’ But it didn’t work out too well for him.”

It turns out that Kaczynski never studied at MIT, and he was identified as the Unabomber only in 1996, some ten years after the death of Trump's uncle.

Donald Trump appeared to fall asleep during a meeting in the Oval Office. (Image: Getty)

In the past, the US President has shown an obsession with windmills, delivering several unprompted speeches on the topic.

And he was at it again in July during a meeting with the European Commission president, Ursula von der Leyen. Trump suddenly switched from talking about immigration to delivering an impassioned lecture on “windmills”.

Speaking non-stop for some two minutes, he claimed that they drive whales “loco” and that wind energy “kills the birds”.

Research suggests that many more birds are killed by domestic cats and power lines than by turbines.

The US President told reporters in November that he had undergone an MRI scan.

He was unable to remember which body part had been scanned, prompting concerns about his mental acuity.

During the same month, the US President appeared to fall asleep at a meeting in the Oval Office and again at a Cabinet meeting with his ministers in early December.

Just two weeks later, he seemed to nod off at a press conference called to announce cannabis reforms.

The White House has repeatedly dismissed concerns about Trump's wellbeing, insisting he is in excellent health.

He underwent a medical examination in April, which concluded that the US President "exhibits excellent cognitive and physical health and is fully fit to execute the duties of the Commander-in-Chief and Head of State."