Hillary Clinton has been ill with pneumonia, her doctor revealed in a statement, hours after the Democratic White House hopeful left a 9/11 memorial ceremony abruptly after feeling overheated.
Clinton’s health had been the subject of much speculation, fueled most recently by a coughing fit she had at the start of a campaign event in Cleveland, Ohio, last Monday, and the latest episode has spawned speculations on how her health would impact the presidential race against Republican rival Donald Trump..
The former top American diplomat has earlier said she was treating seasonal allergies.
Dr. Lisa Bardack released a statement via the campaign revealing the diagnosis on Sunday evening.
Bardack said Clinton had an examination at her home in Chappaqua, New York, after the incident, which was a result of dehydration and overheating.
“Secretary Clinton has been experiencing a cough related to allergies. On Friday, during follow up evaluation of her prolonged cough, she was diagnosed with pneumonia,” Bardack said.
“She was put on antibiotics, and advised to rest and modify her schedule. While at this morning’s event, she became overheated and dehydrated. I have just examined her and she is now re-hydrated and recovering nicely,” the doctor added.
But the campaign has been criticized by the media for failing to keep the press appraised of her health and for departing from the 9/11 memorial without any press in tow.
According to a campaign official Clinton’s planned trip to California has been canceled. She was scheduled to leave on Monday morning for appearances at events in both San Francisco and Los Angeles on Monday and Tuesday, and a rally in Las Vegas on Wednesday.
“Sunday’s events at the Sept. 11 memorial show the importance of having a group of reporters on standby, and close at hand, to cover the potential next president of the United States,” Anne Gearan, the Washington Post political reporter and current chair of the Clinton press pool, told CNN.
The Washington Post’s Chris Cillizza, who dismissed what he called “conspiracy theories” about Clinton’s health last week, said he changed his thinking Sunday.
“Whereas Clinton and her campaign could laugh off questions about her health before today, the ‘overheating’ episode makes it almost impossible for them to do so,” he wrote. “Not only has it come at a time when there was growing chatter — with very little evidence — that her health was a problem but it also happened at a 9/11 memorial event — an incredibly high-profile moment with lots and lots of cameras and reporters around.”
Clinton’s rival Trump challenged her last week after she had a coughing fit that he would release his full medical records if Clinton makes her records public.
He was reportedly told about his Democratic rival having to leave the 9/11 memorial early, according to a Washington Post reporter, but did not comment on Sunday.
Meanwhile, former Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm, a Clinton supporter, said “‘powering through” illness is what women do,” in a tweet.
“I am glad to learn that Secretary Clinton is already feeling better and I wish her a speedy recovery,” interim Democratic National Committee Chairwoman Donna Brazile said, according to Bloomberg.
”I look forward to seeing her back out on the campaign trail and continuing on the path to victory.”
Meanwhile, videos spread quickly online showing Clinton stumbling into a black van before leaving a memorial event early in New York City.
Aides said Clinton was feeling “overheated” and left to rest at her daughter’s apartment.
Clinton emerged about 90 minutes later, telling reporters she felt great. She then was driven to her home in Chappaqua, N.Y., where her doctor performed an examination.
Meanwhile, the NBC News reported that Hillary Clinton’s wobbly incident Sunday is a near-textbook case of what can happen with “walking pneumonia.” In such cases, patients don’t feel great, but they’re not sick enough to stay home in bed or to be hospitalized, according to the channel.
