Hillary Clinton, battling pneumonia, cancels California campaign trip

On Sunday morning, Hillary Clinton quietly and abruptly left a ceremony in Lower Manhattan to mark the 15th anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks, and headed to the nearby apartment of daughter Chelsea. A video later emerged showing Clinton stumbling while entering a van from the ceremony, and a few hours later, her personal physician, Dr. Lisa Bardack, said in a statement that Clinton had been diagnosed with pneumonia Friday, is taking antibiotics and had been advised to rest and curtail her schedule, and became dehydrated and overheated at the 9/11 ceremony. "I have just examined her and she is now rehydrated and recovering nicely," Bardack wrote.
Clinton was also filmed walking out of Chelsea's apartment on her own at around noon, smiling and waving and telling a reporter that she felt much better. After she returned home to Chappaqua, Clinton canceled a two-day campaign trip to California scheduled for Monday and Tuesday. The Clinton campaign had not disclosed her pneumonia diagnosis until Bardack's statement.
Several doctors contacted by The Associated Press said that Clinton should recover in a few days if she rests, drinks fluids, and takes her antibiotics. They were also not surprised at the infection. "Candidates are constantly out in enclosed spaces, face to face with myriads of people," said Dr. William Schaffer at Vanderbilt University. "It's an ideal opportunity for the transmission of a respiratory virus." In the CNN report below, Dr. Sanjay Gupta says that there's not enough information to offer a prognosis on Clinton's recovery, but did note the dangers of dehydration with pneumonia, saying her stumble getting into the van on Sunday morning was consistent with Bardack's description of Clinton's health. Peter Weber
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.
-
Magazine solutions - March 14, 2025
Feature Issue - March 14, 2025
By The Week US Published
-
Magazine printables - March 14, 2025
Feature Issue - March 14, 2025
By The Week US Published
-
Why is MAGA turning on Amy Coney Barrett?
Today's Big Question She may be the swing vote on Trump cases
By Joel Mathis, The Week US Published
-
Trump eases Mexico, Canada tariffs again as markets slide
speed read The president suspended some of the 25% tariffs he imposed on Mexican and Canadian imports
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Trump tells Cabinet they are in charge of layoffs, not Musk
Speed Read The White House has faced mounting complaints about DOGE's sweeping cuts
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Rep. Sylvester Turner dies, weeks after joining House
Speed Read The former Houston mayor and longtime state legislator left behind a final message for Trump: 'Don't mess with Medicaid'
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Trump pauses Ukraine intelligence sharing
Speed Read The decision is intended to pressure Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy into peace negotiations with Vladimir Putin
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Supreme Court rules against Trump on aid freeze
Speed Read The court rejected the president's request to freeze nearly $2 billion in payments for foreign humanitarian work
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Trump touts early wins in partisan speech to Congress
Speed Read The president said he is 'just getting started' with his sweeping changes to immigration, the economy and foreign policy
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Trudeau blasts Trump's 'very dumb' trade war
Speed Read Retaliatory measures have been announced by America's largest trading partners following Trump's tariffs on Canada, Mexico and China
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Trump pauses military aid to Ukraine after public spat
Speed Read Trump and J.D. Vance berated Volodymyr Zelenskyy for what they saw as insufficient gratitude
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published