Former President Bill Clinton, 78, was admitted to MedStar Georgetown University Hospital in Washington, D.C., on Monday afternoon for testing and observation after developing a fever, his spokesperson told CNN.
“The president is doing well,” said Angel Urena, Clinton’s deputy chief of staff, in an interview. Urena added that Clinton is optimistic about returning home before Christmas. “He remains in good spirits and is deeply grateful for the excellent care he is receiving.”
An aide confirmed that Clinton was at his Washington residence when he was taken to the hospital. The former president is expected to stay at least overnight and is described as “awake and alert.”
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News of former President Bill Clinton’s hospitalization just two days before Christmas quickly circulated among his extensive network of colleagues and supporters. A longtime associate reassured that his condition was described as “neither urgent nor dire.”
The 42nd president has faced several health challenges since leaving office nearly 25 years ago. In 2004, he underwent quadruple bypass heart surgery, followed by treatment for a partially collapsed lung in 2005. In 2010, he had two stents placed in a coronary artery. More recently, in 2021, he was hospitalized for six days in Los Angeles due to a urological infection that progressed to his bloodstream.
Despite these health issues, Clinton remains remarkably active. He spoke at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago this past August and played an energetic role on the campaign trail during the fall. Following the election, he continued a demanding travel schedule to promote his latest book, Citizen: My Life After the White House.
Former President Bill Clinton, 78, was admitted to MedStar Georgetown University Hospital in Washington, D.C., on Monday after developing a fever, according to a statement from his deputy chief of staff, Angel Urena.
Clinton was hospitalized in the afternoon for testing and observation. “He remains in good spirits and deeply appreciates the excellent care he is receiving,” Urena said.
The former president, who served two terms from January 1993 to January 2001, has stayed active in public life. This summer, he spoke at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago and later campaigned ahead of November’s election in support of Vice President Kamala Harris’s bid for the presidency.
Since leaving the White House, former President Bill Clinton has faced several notable health challenges.
In 2004, he underwent quadruple bypass surgery after experiencing extended chest pain and shortness of breath. The following year, he had surgery to treat a partially collapsed lung. In 2010, two stents were inserted into a coronary artery.
Clinton responded to these health issues by adopting a mostly vegan diet, which helped him lose weight and improve his overall health.
In 2021, during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, Clinton spent six days in a California hospital for treatment of a urological infection that had spread to his bloodstream. An aide clarified that he was on the mend, never went into septic shock—a potentially life-threatening condition—and was placed in an intensive care section of the hospital, though he did not require ICU-level care.
Despite these setbacks, Clinton has continued to stay active. As the founder and chair of the Clinton Foundation, he remains engaged in global initiatives and public service.