Donald Trump’s health has been the subject of intense speculation in recent weeks, with a series of public appearances and absences sparking concern, despite an update from his doctor
Donald Trump’s health has caught attention in recent weeks following a string of public appearances – and notable absences – that have fuelled rumours about his possible deterioration.
The President, 79, has been spotted with bruises on his hands and swollen ankles, while sharp-eyed observers have spotted numerous details during his public outings that could indicate more serious health concerns. However, just this week, his doctor issued an update on Trump’s health, stating his cardiac age is approximately 14 years younger than his actual age.
It was reported that Trump underwent a “routine yearly checkup” for his health at the Walter Reed Medical Centre in Bethesda, Maryland. His doctor, Navy Captain Sean Barbabella, stated in a one-page memo released on Friday evening: “President Donald J. Trump remains in exceptional health, exhibiting strong cardiovascular, pulmonary, neurological and physical performance.”
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In addition to the check-up, Trump received a Covid-19 booster vaccine and his annual flu jab. Despite this positive health update and the White House addressing the rumours, peculiar incidents have left some people unconvinced about the President’s health.
Hand marks
Photographs of Trump’s hands have been the most notable images to trigger health worries during the President’s current term, with dark marks having been spotted appearing and vanishing. The bruise-like blemishes have been, on occasions, apparently concealed with foundation makeup, leading some to speculate he may have been undergoing intravenous treatment.
The White House has, nevertheless, claimed the bruising resulted from a combination of “frequent handshaking” and his use of aspirin. A previous letter from his doctor, Barbarella, stated: “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 lopsided face
Trump’s public appearance at an event honouring the victims of 9/11 sparked health fears for the President, with dramatic pictures and footage from the Pentagon event showing his face lopsided on one side. A drooping mouth on one side is a hallmark symptom of a stroke, but Trump appeared otherwise fine when the pictures were taken.
He departed the ceremony and has since made several public appearances without the same drooping, yet it has sparked worry amongst some observers. One anxious social media user commented: “This is President Donald Trump’s drooping face. People are worried about his health. We pray for him.”
Another user remarked: “Either Trump has just been to the dentist or had had a TIA (transient ischemic attack) affecting the right side of his face. He sounds very tired.”
Trump grips the podium
Shortly before the facial photographs were captured, the President was standing at a podium on stage and giving a speech to a gathered crowd. He appeared to grasp and brace himself against the podium briefly, apparently stabilising himself whilst on stage.
The bracing prompted people to suggest Trump might have been “extremely tired”.
The President’s ankles
Over the past year, people have noticed a worrying detail during Trump’s public appearances – the President’s swollen ankles, which seem to overflow his shoes. This observation sparked speculation 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.
Barbarella came to this conclusion after a “comprehensive examination, including diagnostic vascular studies”, stating: “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
While Trump’s numerous unusual appearances have raised most questions, his absences have also caused concern. In August, the typically attention-seeking President was nowhere to be seen over the Labour Day weekend, leading to wild speculation that he may have passed away.
The hashtags #trumpisdead and #whereistrump trended on X over the long weekend, and millions tuned into TikToks speculating he may have had some sort of medical emergency. When the President did eventually reappear, looking noticeably more worn out, he was questioned about the hashtag.
He claimed not to have heard about the trend, and later dismissed the “reports” as “fake news”.
Trump’s ramblings
While physical health issues have recently been the focus of discussions about Trump’s well-being, his mental sharpness has also come under scrutiny following a series of patently false statements. One such claim was made in mid-July when he recounted a conversation with his late uncle, Dr John Trump, an engineer and senior researcher at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).
He claimed 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 claim is demonstrably false, as Dr Trump passed away in 1985, a full nine years before Kaczynski was identified as the Unabomber. Furthermore, Kaczynski was not an MIT student; he attended Harvard University and later the University of Michigan, where he earned his PhD.