Donald Trump's latest medical report triggered a suggestion on Tuesday night's Fox News show Gutfeld! that he be referred to as "Dr. Trump," based on honorary doctorates.
Trump published the doctor's letter which stated the 77-year-old was in "excellent health," with normal physical health and exceptional cognitive health, on his social media platform Truth Social on Monday.
Discussing the letter on Greg Gutfeld's show on Tuesday, TV personality Charly Arnolt said Trump had an honorary doctorate and ought to be addressed with the title.
The Claim
During Fox News' Gutfeld!, broadcast on Tuesday, November 21, 2023, Charly Arnolt claimed that Donald Trump had an honorary doctorate.
While discussing Trump's recent medical report, and suggestions it amounted to "propaganda," Arnolt said: "But actually, Dr. President Donald J. Trump, by the way he has his honorary doctorate degree, you all know that right, and if we still insist on calling Jill Biden 'Dr. Biden' then I insist on calling him 'Dr. Trump.'"
Asked by Gutfeld what doctorate he had, Arnolt replied: "I don't know but he has an honorary doctorate and that's all that matters."
Gutfeld responded: "If you're going to bring this up, Charly, you at least have to tell us which one."
Arnolt added that Trump could "do his own medical reports if he wanted at this stage."
The Facts
Donald Trump has received five honorary doctorates, although all but two have since been rescinded. None would qualify him to carry out medical exams.
In 1988, he was awarded a doctor of laws at Lehigh University, as reported by multiple media outlets. A 1988 article in the Lehigh Valley, Pennsylvania, newspaper The Morning Call reported Trump's commencement speech.
In 2004, Wagner College in New York, awarded Trump the degree of humane letters honoris causa, an honorary doctorate as reported by Wagner College paper The Wagnerian.
Scotland's Robert Gordon University presented Trump in 2010 with an honorary award of doctor of business administration for his "business acumen, entrepreneurial vision and the long-term future his company is planning in the North-east of Scotland."
Trump was awarded an honorary doctorate of business in 2012 by Liberty University, a Christian university in Virginia, for what it said was his "commitment to our nation's founding principles of limited government, individual liberty, and the free enterprise system, and in further recognition of his iconic status as one of America's most successful visionaries and entrepreneurs."
Liberty University awarded him again in 2017, with an honorary doctor of laws. Then Liberty President Jerry Falwell Jr. commended Trump's "commitment to his country and to the citizens who have been forgotten by their own government, his unwavering determination to make America great again, and his bold leadership of our nation."
However, apart from his Liberty University degrees, Trump has since had these honors rescinded.
Robert Gordon University rescinded Trump's doctorate in 2015, stating that: "In the course of the current U.S. election campaign, Mr Trump has made a number of statements that are wholly incompatible with the ethos and values of the university."
Lehigh University initially said it would take no action to rescind Trump's honorary degree following a petition which received 78,000 signatures. It later rescinded the degree in 2021, two days after the U.S. Capitol riot on January 6. Newsweek has contacted Lehigh University for comment.
The same day Wagner College Board of Trustees rescinded the degree it gave Trump in 2004.
First Lady Jill Biden studied for and received her doctorate in education—an Ed.D—from the University of Delaware in 2007. Whether she ought to be addressed as "Doctor" has been the matter of some debate.
The Associated Press Style Book, which guides news reporting including Newsweek's, states "Dr." should not be used before names of those who hold non-medical degrees.
"Do not use Dr. before the names of individuals who hold other types of doctoral degrees," it reads.
The Ruling
True.
Trump currently holds honorary doctorates from Liberty University in Business and Laws, awarded in 2012 and 2017 respectively.
Between 1988 and 2012 he received doctorates from Lehigh University, Wagner College, and Robert Gordon University. All of those degrees have since been rescinded.
FACT CHECK BY Newsweek's Fact Check team
Uncommon Knowledge
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
