Clinton has ‘no other’ health problem than pneumonia — aide

Hillary Clinton is suffering from no health ailments other than pneumonia, and the Democratic presidential nominee is expected to return to the campaign trail as early as mid-week, a senior aide said Monday.

“There’s no other undisclosed condition. The pneumonia is the extent of it,” spokesman Brian Fallon told MSNBC a day after the 68-year-old Clinton fell ill at a 9/11 memorial event in New York and her campaign subsequently announced she was diagnosed Friday with pneumonia.

“I expect that by the middle to the [end] of the week she’ll be back out there on the campaign trail,” he said, adding that the campaign will also release fresh medical records to help “further put to rest any lingering concerns” about the former secretary of state’s health.

“She did not lose consciousness. She stumbled getting into the van,” added another aide, Robby Mook, during an interview on MSNBC.

Clinton’s White House bid wobbled Monday as the bout of pneumonia gave her rival Donald Trump a new opening to question her fitness for office.

In his first public comments since Clinton was taken ill at a 9/11 ceremony in New York on Sunday, an unusually subdued Trump offered her his wishes for a rapid recovery, but also suggested that the former secretary of state’s health issues were of longer standing than admitted.

“Something is going on but I just hope she gets well and gets back on the trail, and we’ll be seeing her at the debate,” the Republican candidate said in a phone interview with Fox News.

The unexpected turn of events barely eight weeks before the November 8 elections has turned a conservative angle of attack into a serious line of questioning about the 68-year-old Clinton’s health, why it took two days to reveal the pneumonia diagnosis, and what would happen if she were forced to quit the race.

“Antibiotics can take care of pneumonia. What’s the cure for an unhealthy penchant for privacy that repeatedly creates unnecessary problems?” asked former White House aide David Axelrod on Twitter.

Antibiotics can take care of pneumonia. What's the cure for an unhealthy penchant for privacy that repeatedly creates unnecessary problems?

— David Axelrod (@davidaxelrod) September 12, 2016

“We could have done better yesterday, but it is a fact that public knows more about HRC than any nominee in history,” fired back Clinton’s communications director Jennifer Palmieri.

We could have done better yesterday, but it is a fact that public knows more about HRC than any nominee in history. https://t.co/Q50oHK85wQ

— Jennifer Palmieri (@jmpalmieri) September 12, 2016

But the episode has fueled fresh speculation and conspiracy theories on the internet, already awash with unsubstantiated rumors Clinton may have a brain tumor, Parkinson’s or dementia. #HillarysBodyDouble was a trending topic on Twitter on Monday.

The root of the persistent claims about Clinton’s health lies in 2012, towards the end of her tenure as secretary of state. A stomach virus and dehydration prompted her to faint, causing what her doctor said was a concussion. Doctors then said they found a blood clot on the brain. Clinton later received the all-clear.

The former first lady has dismissed rumors about her health and pointed to a letter from her doctor declaring her fit to serve as president.

But Trump has repeatedly raised doubts about Clinton’s stamina and physical strength, and on Monday questioned her campaign’s account of the current episode.

“Because they say pneumonia on Friday, but she was coughing very, very badly a week ago and even before that if you remember, and this was not the first time,” he said in an interview with CNBC.

Drawing a contrast, Trump told Fox he had a physical last week and would release the details once test results are back.

“I think they are going to be good. I feel great, but when the numbers come in, I’ll be releasing very, very specific numbers,” the 70-year-old real estate magnate said.