Dr. Sean Barbabella serves as White House physician, and he made headlines in July by announcing that President Donald Trump suffers from a benign case of chronic venous insufficiency.

While Vice President J.D. Vance recently made clear that Trump is fit to serve, Vance also said that he is ready to take over should the need come up. 

Vice president insists that Trump will "serve out the remainder of his term"

Vance made that assertion during an interview with USA Today last week, stating, "The president is in incredibly good health. He's got incredible energy."

"I feel very confident the president of the United States is in good shape, is going to serve out the remainder of his term and do great things for the American people," the vice president declared.

"He's the last person making phone calls at night, and he's the first person who wakes up and the first person making phone calls in the morning," Vance continued.

In his July 17 memo, Barbabella explained that Trump's condition is "common" and often found "in individuals over the age of 70."

Vance has received "on-the-job training" since Trump took office in January

Vance also acknowledged that the president faces threats to his life, as was seen in the two assassination attempts which Trump survived last year.

JD Vance, in exclusive interview, says he's ready to be president while hailing Trump's health https://t.co/nc2iSnyvD4

— USA TODAY (@USATODAY) August 29, 2025

"Yes, terrible tragedies happen," he noted. "But I feel very confident the president of the United States is in good shape, is going to serve out the remainder of his term and do great things for the American people."

"And if, God forbid, there's a terrible tragedy, I can't think of better on-the-job training than what I've gotten over the last 200 days," the vice president stressed.

Trump said Vance "would probably be favored" for the GOP's nomination in 2028

Vance's remarks came just weeks after the president said that his vice president will "likely" be the Republican Party's nominee in 2028.

As USA Today reported, Trump told journalists that Vance is "doing a great job, and he would probably be favored at this point."

The newspaper pointed out how Trump's comments reflected an apparent change from the stance which he took earlier in the year.

In February, the president described Vance as being "very capable" but indicated that it was "too early" to talk about the future.