White House and Slovak PM Robert Fico deny Politico report claiming Fico expressed concern about President Trump’s psychological state to European leaders
WASHINGTON: The White House and Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico have both denied a report claiming Fico expressed concern about President Donald Trump’s mental health to other European leaders.
Politico, citing European diplomats, reported that Fico told counterparts at a summit he was worried about the US leader’s “psychological state.”
The report also said Fico, a Trump ally, used the word “dangerous” to describe how the president came across during their meeting in Florida.
“This is absolutely total fake news from anonymous European diplomats who are trying to be relevant. The meeting at Mar-a-Lago was positive and productive,” White House Deputy Press Secretary Anna Kelly said in a statement.
The Slovak leader denounced the Politico report as “lies” in a post on social media platform X.
“I strongly reject the lies of the hateful, pro-Brussels liberal portal Politico,” Fico said, posting in capitals.
Fico stated he “did not speak informally with any prime minister or president about my visit to the US.”
He also rejected the report about “how I assessed my meeting” with Trump, adding “no one heard anything, no one saw anything, there are no witnesses.”
Following their meeting at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort, Fico had said he held “exceptionally important” talks with the US leader.
The physical and mental health of 79-year-old Trump has become an extremely sensitive issue for the White House.
Trump, who turns 80 in June, has consistently portrayed his Democratic predecessor Joe Biden as decrepit while boasting about his own vitality.
Speculation about Trump’s own health has increased, including over frequent bruising on his hands and footage of him apparently dozing in meetings.
