Donald Trump was exempt from being drafted in the Vietnam War due to a ‘common’ medical condition that appeared to have cured itself.
Talk of potential military service has resurfaced in recent weeks as tensions have risen amid the conflict involving the US and Isreal, and Iran.
The US and Isreal struck targets in Tehran on February 28, a move that further destabilized the region.
The US said it conducted ‘Operation Epic Fury,’ an action that reportedly led to the death of Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.
Iran has reported at least 555 fatalities, including 180 people said to have been killed at a girls’ elementary school.
In response, Iran launched retaliatory strikes on US bases in nearby countries.
US defense officials have said the first week of fighting alone has cost the US $6 billion.
With the situation escalating, some Americans have voiced concerns about the possibility of a future draft.
Against that backdrop, renewed attention has been placed on the fact that Donald Trump avoided being drafted during the Vietnam War, which lasted from November 1955 to April 1975.
He received four deferments while he was in college, followed by a fifth one based on a medical issue.
The diagnosis cited was bone spurs, also known as osteophytes.
The Cleveland Clinic describes bone spurs as an ‘extra growths of bone tissue that appear like smooth lumps on the outsides of your bones.’
They’re described as fairly common and often harmless, though they can cause symptoms if they rub against soft tissue, restrict joint movement, or press on a nerve.
Trump’s diagnosis came after he graduated from the University of Pennsylvania in 1968—around the time he would have become eligible for the draft.
That medical finding led to a 1-Y medical deferment, which meant he was not required to serve.
That same year, about 300,000 troops were sent to Southeast Asia, according to the New York Times.
In a 2016 interview with the publication, Trump said the bone spurs had been ‘temporary’ and characterized them as a ‘minor malady that had not had a meaningful impact on him.’
“I had a doctor that gave me a letter — a very strong letter on the heels,” he claimed.
However, he said he could not remember the doctor’s name and was unable to provide the letter to the Times.
The story has reemerged as some social media users have argued that Trump’s son, Barron, should be drafted if US forces are ever deployed on the ground in Iran.
Barron, 19, has also drawn attention for his height, reportedly standing at 2.06 meters—nearly half a foot taller than other members of his family.
In recent days, the hashtag ‘SendBarron’ has trended online, reviving a longstanding argument about whether the children of presidents should be expected to serve in wartime.
The US government notes that ‘almost all’ men between 18 and 25 who live in the US are required to register for Selective Service.