Hillary Clinton leaves 9/11 event, cancels California trip due to pneumonia [video]
The presidential campaign is taking a toll on Hillary Clinton’s health as the Democratic Party presidential nominee left a major event Sunday after being diagnosed with pneumonia.
The 68-year-old former Secretary of State abruptly exited an early Sunday ceremony marking the 15th anniversary of the September 11 terrorist attacks in New York. Clinton was hauled off from the memorial site in downtown Manhattan to her daughter Chelsea’s apartment in Madison Avenue before being sent home in Chappaqua.
According to Clinton’s physician, Dr. Lisa Bardack, her allergy-related cough turned out to be a symptom of pneumonia. Dehydration worsened Clinton’s condition and prompted her to leave the ceremony prematurely.
“Secretary Clinton has been experiencing a cough related to allergies,” Bardack said in a 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.”
A video posted on Twitter shows a woman, presumed to be Clinton, being assisted to a black SUV. The woman can hardly walk towards the car by herself.
Hillary Clinton 9/11 NYC pic.twitter.com/q9YnsjTxss
— Zdenek Gazda (@zgazda66) September 11, 2016
Various media outlets reported that Clinton’s departure from the 9/11 Ground Zero happened at about 9:36 a.m. According to campaign spokesman Nick Merrill, Clinton stayed for an hour and 30 minutes.
“Secretary Clinton attended the September 11th Commemoration Ceremony for just an hour and 30 minutes this morning to pay her respects and greet some of the families of the fallen.
“During the ceremony, she felt overheated so departed to go to her daughter’s apartment, and is feeling much better.”
Clinton left her daughter’s apartment at about 11:45 a.m. She was quoted as saying, “I’m feeling great. It’s a beautiful day in New York.”
We'll never forget the horror of September 11, 2001. Today, let's honor the lives and tremendous spirit of the victims and responders. -H
— Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) September 11, 2016
However, Clinton’s poor health condition has prompted her staff to cancel her trip to California, where she was scheduled to attend fundraising events on Monday and Tuesday. Clinton’s archival, Republican Party presidential nominee Donald Trump was noticeably silent about news on Clinton’s health condition.
The incident comes less than two months before the Nov. 8 US presidential election.
