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Girther movement: Support swells for Donald Trump to undergo live weigh-in

Campaign mocks support for anti-Obama 'Birther' conspiracy theory

Peter Stubley
Wednesday 17 January 2018 12:18 EST
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Trump's doctor says Donald is in great health for his age, citing 'incredible genes'

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Thousands are flocking to the viral "Girther movement" in a bid to force Donald Trump to confirm his real weight by stepping on scales live on TV.

Doubts were cast on the official White House measurements which claimed the President was 6ft 3 inches tall and weighed 239 pounds, or just over 17 stone, with a body mass index of 29.

It sparked a new conspiracy theory – a twist on the “Birther” movement which questioned Barack Obama’s birth certificate – that Mr Trump had doctored the figures to avoid being labelled obese.

Twitter users lined up to declare “I’m a Girther” after Guardians of the Galaxy director James Gunn offered to donate $100,000 (£72,000) if Mr Trump “will step on an accurate scale with an impartial medical professional”.

Mark #Resist tweeted: “I’m a ‘Girther’. I believe the President definitely weighs more than was reported by his state owned physician... Who’s with me?”

Another wrote: “I challenge Donald Trump to get on a scale on live TV and prove he is only 239 pounds Show us your weight certificate.”

One calling himself Alexander “Stable Genius” Hamilton noted: “So Dr Ronny Jackson says Trump is 6’ 3“ & 239lbs That makes his BMI 29.9 Obese: BMI is 30 or more. Seems to me like they lied just enough so Trump wouldn’t be considered obese.”

The controversy has also spread to questioning the President’s height.

Last month it was reported that Mr Trump’s stated height of 6ft 3 inches was not supported by his 2012 New York State driving licence, which lists it as 6ft 2 inches.

Another Twitter user using the name Agent Smith wrote: “Donald claims he is one inch taller than he really is, to keep his BMI classification just under “Obese”... and has been doing this for a while.” Another added: “I’m a #girther because old men don’t GROW an inch!”

Tweeters compared Mr Trump to photos of Mr Obama (6ft 1 inch) and Jeb Bush (6ft 3 inches) as well as famous American athletes with similar heights and weights, including baseball star Alex Rodriguez and American football players Jay Cutler and Colin Kaepernick.

Mr Trump’s medical report, which concluded his “overall health is excellent”, appeared to clash with reports about his taste for fried chicken and Diet Coke and his habit of retiring to bed at 6.30pm with a cheeseburger.

His doctor revealed Mr Trump is prescribed medication to prevent hair loss, lower cholesterol and treat the skin condition Rosacea in addition to regular doses of aspirin and multivitamins.

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