White House press secretary Josh Earnest said Obama's doctor Ronny Jackson, suggested that some diagnostic tests be done on Saturday afternoon since the president had free time in his schedule. He said Obama has been complaining of a sore throat.
The situation was not urgent, Earnest said, and Obama's motorcade made the half-hour crawl in rainy weather to the Walter Reed National Military Medical Centre in Bethesda, Maryland, just outside Washington.
Obama departed after spending about a half hour at the facility.
"The quickly scheduled test is a matter of convenience for the president, not a matter of urgency," Earnest said.
"We will provide additional updates when available."
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Obama, 53, had a physical exam in May and was said to be in excellent health.
