President Donald Trump on Monday revealed that retiring Rep. Neal Dunn (R-Florida) is fighting a terminal illness and said that doctors previously told Dunn he could be “dead by June.”
In January, Dunn announced that he would not seek reelection to the House after five terms representing Florida’s 2nd District. Dunn did not offer details about the reasons behind his retirement, but it has been widely reported that he has been dealing with health issues.
On Monday, Trump divulged details about Dunn’s diagnosis while speaking to reporters at the Kennedy Center, where he attended a board meeting with House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-Louisiana), among others.
With Johnson seated beside him, Trump riffed on how difficult it is for the speaker to operate with a very slim majority, particularly given recent resignations and the January death of Rep. Doug LaMalfa (R-California).
Trump said that another Republican lawmaker “was very ill and looked like he wasn’t going to make it.” At first, Trump did not share the congressman’s name but then encouraged Johnson to divulge details.
Johnson identified Dunn and said he “had a pretty grim diagnosis.” After some prodding from Trump, Johnson added that it was a “terminal diagnosis.”
“He would be dead by June,” Trump added, interrupting a stunned Johnson.
“Okay, that wasn’t public,” Johnson said, before Trump added that Dunn faces heart problems.
The speaker then tried to move the conversation forward, saying that Trump got his doctors involved and, as a result, Dunn was able to receive emergency care at the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center. A medical procedure, Johnson said, gave Dunn “a new lease on life.”
“He acts like he’s 30 years younger,” Johnson said. “I spoke with him over the weekend, and he’s encouraged and thankful, and he thanks the president for his leadership and intervention.”
A spokesperson for Dunn did not immediately respond to a request for comment Monday.
The president said that when Johnson informed him of Dunn’s condition, Trump said he thought the diagnosis was bad.
“Number one, it was bad because I liked him. Number two, it was bad because I needed his vote,” Trump said.
Trump said that Dunn told Johnson that he would fight the condition “for the president and you.”
“How many people are going to say that? Most of them [would] say ‘Mike, I’m retiring immediately,’” Trump added.
“He’s an extraordinary individual,” Johnson said.
In January, Dunn announced that he would not run for reelection but will remain in the House until the end of this term.
“The time has come to pass the torch to new conservative leaders, return home to Panama City, and spend more precious time with my family and our beloved grandchildren,” Dunn said at the time in a statement.
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