‘I have very severe problems’: Trump hints at health issues

Donald Trump has made a bizarre confession about his own health at an event at the White House.

The US president was addressing a group of firefighters when he went on a tangent about personal vices.

"If you don’t drink or you don’t take drugs or if you don’t smoke, there’s no problem," Trump said.

"I have other problems, I have some very severe problems. But those are not one of them."

The 80-year-old did not go into details about his "very severe problems".

"I don't want to add them to the list, 'cos if I did I guarantee I wouldn't be here right now."

Moments later he tried to backtrack on his comments.

"The press is going to say 'What problem does he have? Let's figure that out'," he said.

"I probably set myself up for that one.

"I actually don't know. I was just having fun to the media. They're wonderful people."

The president's health has been the subject of much conjecture, with questions raised about various apparent ailments and odd behaviour.

In the last month several videos have circulated which appear to show Trump failing to walk in a straight line, or slapping the side of his leg in an unusual fashion.

Questions have also been raised about large black bruises on the president's hand.

The White House has said the bruise stems from shaking so many hands.

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At the same event, Trump also lamented that it was illegal to give money to police.

"You're not allowed to take a tip. If you take a tip, then, they'll come and grab you, they'll throw you in the clinker, so tips don't help you," the president said.

"We're not supposed to be giving law enforcement tips."

He also took swings at two Democratic candidates in Senate races, Texas’s James Talarico and Michigan’s Abdul El-Sayed.

At a rally on Wednesday the president went into great detail bragging about his results on a cognitive test.

Trump said when he successfully remembered five words given to him by doctors, they replied "Holy s—".

"They say very few people can do that, but almost none can do them in order like that. But I can," Trump said.

"You know why? Because I’m a freakin’ genius."

Trump has repeatedly boasted of his success in cognitive tests, which are given to patients to determine whether they have dementia.

The test the president is referring to is the Montreal Cognitive Test.

The ten-minute test developed by Canadian neurologist Ziad Nasreddine is intended to determine if a person has conditions like Alzheimer’s or dementia. 

Sample questions include drawing an analogue clock with the correct time, with points given for correct numbering.

Another question is to name as many words as they can in a minute beginning with the letter B.

A failing grade would be less than 11 words.

The final questions are to know the date, day of the week, their location and what city they are in.

"It wasn't designed to be a test of IQ," Nasreddine told nine.com.au in May.

"It was designed to assess normal cognitive performance."

At his rally in Arizona on Wednesday, he bragged about travelling with many doctors.

"If people get sick in the audience, they leave them alone. You know what they call them? Collateral damage," Trump said.

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He then pointed out someone in the crowd.

"If that person right over there, he looks like s— actually. He looks like he's ready to have a heart attack. 

"If he actually had a heart attack, you know what my doctors would do, they would follow the president and leave him alone.

"I've got like six ambulances and they won't use one for anybody else."

His comments drew the ire of Democratic Congressman Jim McGovern.

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"This is how he treats his biggest supporters," McGovern said.

"Of course he doesn’t give a s— about any of us."

By the end of his term, Trump will be the oldest person to have ever served as president of the United States.