As footage emerges President Donald Trump appearing to doze off during a press conference, fresh concerns have emerged regarding the health of POTUS
Concerns about US President Donald Trump’s health have intensified once again after footage emerged of him seemingly dozing off during a chaotic news conference. This follows a series of public appearances – and notable absences – that have sparked speculation about the President’s possible decline.
The President, 79, has been seen with bruising on his hands and swelling around his ankles, whilst eagle-eyed onlookers have identified several details during his public engagements that could suggest more serious health issues. Nevertheless, his physician last month released an update on Trump’s health, claiming his cardiac age is roughly 14 years younger than his chronological age.
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Following his “routine yearly checkup” at the Walter Reed Medical Centre in Bethesda, Maryland, Trump’s physician, Navy Captain Sean Barbabella, said: “President Donald J. Trump remains in exceptional health, exhibiting strong cardiovascular, pulmonary, neurological and physical performance.”
Alongside the check-up, Trump received a Covid-19 booster vaccination and his annual flu jab. However, despite this encouraging health update and the White House addressing the speculation, unusual incidents have left some people unconvinced about the President’s well-being.
Hand marks
Images of Trump’s hands have sparked the most significant health concerns during his presidency, with dark marks appearing and disappearing. The bruise-like marks have sometimes seemingly been covered with foundation makeup, prompting speculation he might be receiving intravenous treatment.
However, the White House has maintained that the bruising was caused by a combination of “frequent handshaking” and his use of aspirin. A letter from his doctor, Barbarella, previously explained: “This is consistent with minor soft tissue irritation from frequent handshaking and the use of aspirin, which is taken as part of a standard cardiovascular prevention regimen.”
Trump’s asymmetrical face
The President’s public appearance at a ceremony honouring 9/11 victims raised health concerns, with striking photographs and video from the Pentagon event revealing his face appeared lopsided. A drooping mouth on one side is a classic sign of a stroke, though Trump seemed otherwise well when the images were captured.
He left the ceremony and has subsequently made multiple public appearances without the same drooping, but it has caused alarm amongst some observers. One concerned social media user wrote: “This is President Donald Trump’s drooping face. People are worried about his health. We pray for him.”
One observer noted: “Either Trump has just been to the dentist or had a TIA (transient ischemic attack) affecting the right side of his face. He sounds very tired.”
Trump clings to the podium
Shortly before these facial images were taken, the President was seen on stage delivering a speech to an assembled crowd, gripping and leaning on the podium for support, seemingly steadying himself.
This action led some to suggest that Trump might have been “extremely tired”.
The President’s ankles
Over the past year, people have picked up on a concerning detail during Trump’s public outings – the President’s swollen ankles, which appear to bulge over his shoes. This observation sparked rumours that reached the White House, with the President’s doctor revealing in a letter that Trump has been diagnosed with chronic venous insufficiency, a common condition in those over 70.
After a “comprehensive examination, including diagnostic vascular studies”, Barbarella concluded: “Bilateral lower extremity venous Doppler ultrasounds were performed and revealed chronic venous insufficiency, a benign and common condition, particularly in individuals over the age of 70.”
Days of public absence
Whilst Trump’s many peculiar public appearances have sparked the most questions, his disappearances have also triggered alarm. Back in August, the usually publicity-hungry President vanished entirely over the Labour Day weekend, prompting wild speculation that he might have died.
The hashtags #trumpisdead and #whereistrump went viral on X throughout the long weekend, whilst millions watched TikToks suggesting he may have suffered some form of medical emergency. When the President finally resurfaced, looking considerably more haggard, he faced questions about the hashtag.
He insisted he hadn’t heard about the trend, and subsequently dismissed the “reports” as “fake news”.
Trump’s ramblings
Whilst physical health concerns have lately dominated discussions surrounding Trump’s wellbeing, his mental acuity has also faced scrutiny following a string of demonstrably false statements. One such assertion was made in mid-July when he recalled a conversation with his late uncle, Dr John Trump, an engineer and senior researcher at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).
He maintained his uncle had taught Ted Kaczynski, better known as the Unabomber. He said: “I said: ‘What kind of a student was he, Uncle John? Dr John Trump.'”.
“I said: ‘What kind of a student?’ And then he said: ‘Seriously, good.’ He said: ‘He’d correct – he’d go around correcting everybody.’ But it didn’t work out too well for him.”
However, this assertion is clearly incorrect, as Dr Trump died in 1985, a whole nine years before Kaczynski was identified as the Unabomber. Moreover, Kaczynski was not an MIT student; he went to Harvard University and later the University of Michigan, where he obtained his PhD.
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