US Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton has jokingly asked a TV host to check her pulse and “make sure if I’m alive,” in an attempt to dismiss a series of rumors about her declining health.
Recently, a series of unsubstantiated reports have questioned Clinton’s well-being, claiming that she never fully recovered from a blood clot that she suffered in her brain in late 2012.
The rumors gained more momentum after Republican nominee Donald Trump questioned the former first lady’s well-being.
Clinton, 68, addressed the issue during an appearance on ABC’s “Jimmy Kimmel” on Monday night, saying the allegations were part of a “wacky strategy” by the GOP to gain more votes.
“Back in October, the National Enquirer said I'd be dead in six months. So with every breath I take, I feel like it's a new lease on life,” the former secretary of state joked.
She also took a jab at Trump by calling the 70-year-old “as healthy as a horse.”
The New York businessman had said in Ohio on Monday that Clinton “lacks the mental and physical stamina” to run the country.
Also on Monday, Trump’s close adviser, former New York mayor Rudy Giuliani, raised doubts about Clinton’s health by claiming that she was “tired” and recently “looked sick.”
Clinton’s campaign fired back by advising people to read about the former mayor withdrawal from the 2000 Senate race which, ironically, was directly related to his health.
Dr. Drew Pinsky, a famous addiction medicine specialist; Sean Hannity, Fox News host and a senior Trump adviser; and the notorious pharma executive Martin Shkreli are among a long list of celebrities who have contributed to the conspiracy.
A viral video on Youtube, which has more than 3 million views, claims that Clinton is suffering from a plethora of diseases such as autism and a brain tumor.
In response, Clinton’s campaign has published a medical note from her physician that concludes that she is healthy.