Fact check: What were the medical reasons for Donald Trump's military draft deferment?

1. Summary of the results

Based on the analyses provided, Donald Trump received a medical deferment from military service due to bone spurs in both heels ^[1]. This was Trump's fifth draft deferment, which kept him out of the Vietnam War ^[2]. However, the legitimacy of this medical exemption has become highly controversial.

Michael Cohen, Trump's former lawyer, testified that Trump fabricated this medical condition to avoid military service, stating that Trump "made up a fake injury" and provided no medical records to support the bone spur claim ^[3]. Additionally, the daughters of the foot doctor who originally diagnosed Trump with bone spurs have claimed their father provided the diagnosis as a "favor" to Fred Trump, Donald Trump's father ^[4]. This suggests the medical deferment may have been obtained through family connections rather than legitimate medical necessity.

The precise details of Trump's medical exemption remain unclear and controversial ^[1], with the diagnosis allegedly coming from a Queens podiatrist who had a relationship with Trump's father ^[5].

2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints

The analyses reveal several important contextual factors missing from the original question:

• Draft deferments were common during the Vietnam era, particularly among young men from influential families who could afford college education or obtain favorable medical diagnoses ^[2]. This suggests Trump's situation, while controversial, was not unique in terms of wealthy individuals avoiding service.
• The role of family influence and connections in obtaining the medical deferment is significant - the foot doctor's relationship with Fred Trump appears to have been crucial in securing the diagnosis ^{[5] [4]}.
• Political motivations behind scrutinizing Trump's deferments are evident, as shown by Nikki Haley's campaign highlighting "the mystery surrounding Donald Trump's bone spurs diagnosis" during political campaigns ^[5].

3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement

The original question appears neutral on its surface, but it assumes the medical reasons were legitimate by asking specifically about "medical reasons" rather than "claimed medical reasons" or "alleged medical reasons." This framing could be misleading given that:

• Multiple sources suggest the medical condition was fabricated ^[3]
• The diagnosis appears to have been obtained as a political favor rather than based on genuine medical necessity ^[4]
• No medical records have been provided to substantiate the bone spur diagnosis ^[3]

The question's phrasing inadvertently legitimizes what multiple sources characterize as a potentially fraudulent medical exemption, benefiting those who prefer to avoid scrutiny of Trump's military service record while potentially misleading those seeking factual information about the circumstances of his draft deferment.