Democratic presidential hopeful Hillary Clinton caused consternation among her supporters during a memorial service marking the 15th anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, when she fell ill and left abruptly, adding fuel to speculation about her health into a presidential campaign in which Republican Donald Trump has called her weak and unfit.
Hillary Clinton can be seen staggering and fainting in the video footage showing her early exit from a 9/11 remembrance ceremony on Sunday, her doctor said the episode was a result of heat and dehydration — and revealed she had been diagnosed with pneumonia two days prior.
Video of Clinton’s hurried departure from the Ground Zero memorial showed her buckling and stumbling as she got into her van. Clinton’s campaign issued a statement from her doctor later Sunday revealing that she had been diagnosed with pneumonia two days earlier
The video, circulated on Twitter, appeared to show Clinton, 68, flanked by several Secret Service agents who are regulars on her detail, leaning against a security bollard while agents prepare to help her into a black van. As she steps forward, Clinton can be seen falling as agents help lift her into the van, she also lost one of her shoes in the process.
“Secretary Clinton has been experiencing a cough related to allergies,” Dr. Lisa R. Bardack said in the statement. “On Friday, during follow up evaluation of her prolonged cough, she was diagnosed with pneumonia. She was put on antibiotics, and advised to rest and modify her schedule. While at this morning’s event, she became overheated and dehydrated. I have just examined her and she is now re-hydrated and recovering nicely.”
Clinton spokesman Nick Merrill said she left the ceremony early and retreated to her daughter Chelsea’s apartment in the Gramercy neighborhood of lower Manhattan
Clinton was not seen for more than two hours, after which she emerged from daughter Chelsea Clinton’s apartment building, walking normally, smiling and waving.
The incident quickly sparked renewed attention to Clinton’s health, which has been trending online among conservative outlets and dismissed as conspiracy theory by liberals. Her republican opponent, Donald Trump, has repeatedly questioned her well-being, saying that she doesn’t have the “strength” or “stamina” for the presidency and accusing her of being “exhausted” and sleeping too much.
One individual familiar with the incident confirmed that Clinton felt ill and wobbly at the event.
