Former President Bill Clinton, accompanied by his wife, Hillary Clinton, was observed carrying a portable defibrillator while boarding a private plane in the Hamptons on Thursday, prompting renewed speculation about his health. The UK's Daily Mail first reported the sighting, which was later echoed by the New York Post, highlighting the ex-president's fragile condition due to his extensive history of heart problems.
At 79 years old, Bill Clinton has faced significant health challenges over the past two decades, including a quadruple bypass surgery in 2004, stent placements, and multiple hospitalizations. The emergency bypass surgery he underwent three years after his presidency was a critical procedure that averted a potential heart attack. In 2005, he was hospitalized for a collapsed lung surgery, and in 2009, Clinton was admitted to a New York hospital for chest pains, resulting in the insertion of two stents to unblock arteries.
Following these health scares, Clinton adopted a mostly vegan diet, which he credits with giving him a "second chance" at life. Despite these efforts, his health issues persisted, with a 2021 hospitalization in California for sepsis stemming from a urological infection and a 2022 Christmas Eve hospital stay due to a fever.
The recent incident of Clinton gripping a pole for support after stumbling on a New York City sidewalk during a book tour stop with Hillary has only added to the concerns about his well-being. This latest public appearance with the defibrillator, which is designed to monitor and, if necessary, deliver emergency shocks to patients at high risk of cardiac arrest, has intensified the public discourse regarding his health status.
While some tabloids have speculated about other conditions such as Parkinson's, there have been no credible reports confirming any new diagnosis. Clinton's aides have consistently addressed only his known cardiac and infection-related issues. Despite these health concerns, the Clintons have maintained a visible presence in the political arena this summer.
In a notable political development, the House Oversight Committee has subpoenaed both Bill and Hillary Clinton as part of its investigation into the government's handling of the Jeffrey Epstein case. The Clintons are scheduled to testify this fall, with Hillary appearing on October 9 and Bill on October 14. In his 2024 memoir, Clinton acknowledged flying on Epstein's jet but denied any knowledge of Epstein's criminal activities.
As the third-oldest living president, behind Joe Biden and George W. Bush, Bill Clinton's health has become a subject of public concern, particularly as he continues to engage in political and social events. The contrast between his health and the activities of his contemporaries, such as Donald Trump's golf outings, has been noted on social media, with some commentators questioning the media's focus on the health of different political figures.
