Fact check: Did trump really have a bone spur?

1. Summary of the results

The evidence strongly suggests that Donald Trump's bone spur diagnosis was fabricated to avoid military service during the Vietnam War. Multiple sources provide compelling testimony that the medical deferment was not legitimate:

• Michael Cohen, Trump's former lawyer, testified that Trump admitted to making up the medical issue, stating that Trump claimed the deferment was due to bone spurs but provided no supporting medical records ^[1]
• The daughters of Dr. Larry Braunstein, the Queens foot doctor who diagnosed Trump, revealed that their father provided the bone spur diagnosis as a "favor" to Fred Trump (Trump's father), and that their father frequently told the story of helping Trump avoid the draft through this fabricated diagnosis ^[2]
• The diagnosis has been characterized as a "mystery" and "spontaneous," with sources questioning its legitimacy and timing ^[3]

Despite receiving this medical deferment, Trump later claimed he "would have been honored to serve in the Vietnam War," though this statement came decades after avoiding service through the questionable medical exemption ^[4].

2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints

The original question lacks several important contextual elements:

• No mention of the broader pattern of draft avoidance during the Vietnam War era, when many wealthy families sought medical or educational deferments for their sons
• The political implications are absent - this issue became a significant point of controversy during Trump's campaigns and presidency, with opponents using it to question his patriotism and respect for military service ^[3]
• The question doesn't address Trump's own contradictory statements about his willingness to serve, which creates a disconnect between his actions and later public statements ^[4]
• Missing is the broader context of how this revelation affects Trump's credibility on military and veteran issues, particularly given his later criticisms of military personnel and veterans

3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement

The original question appears neutral but potentially misleading in its framing:

• The phrasing "really have a bone spur" suggests uncertainty about a medical condition rather than addressing the more significant issue of whether the diagnosis was legitimate or fabricated for draft avoidance purposes
• The question focuses on the medical aspect rather than the ethical and legal implications of potentially falsifying medical records to avoid military service
• It doesn't acknowledge the substantial evidence that has emerged suggesting the diagnosis was fraudulent, treating it as an open question when multiple credible sources indicate deception
• Political figures like Nikki Haley's campaign have used this information to criticize Trump as being disrespectful to service members and veterans, indicating this is not merely a historical curiosity but an ongoing political issue ^[3]

The evidence overwhelmingly indicates that Trump did not legitimately have bone spurs requiring a medical deferment, but rather used a fabricated diagnosis to avoid military service during the Vietnam War.