WASHINGTON (LOOTPRESS) — The White House addressed growing speculation over President Donald Trump’s health on Thursday after recent photos showed visible bruising on his hands and apparent swelling in his legs.
Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt read a statement from the president’s physician during a briefing, assuring the public that the president remains in “excellent health” and that the concerns were linked to common, age-related conditions.
“In the interest of transparency, President Trump asked us to share a note from his doctor,” Leavitt said. “He recently experienced mild swelling in his lower legs, which was evaluated out of an abundance of caution.”
According to the medical update, Trump underwent a full vascular and cardiac assessment by the White House Medical Unit. Testing included bilateral lower extremity Doppler ultrasounds, which revealed chronic venous insufficiency — a benign and common condition in individuals over 70.
“There was no evidence of deep vein thrombosis, arterial disease, heart failure, kidney issues, or systemic illness,” Leavitt added.
Comprehensive blood work and an echocardiogram were also performed. All results, including cardiac biomarkers and a metabolic panel, came back within normal ranges.
Speculation about Trump’s health arose in July after images of the former president attending the FIFA Club World Cup final in New Jersey showed swelling in his legs. Additional questions were raised when photos surfaced of bruising on the back of his hands during a recent meeting with Bahrain’s Prime Minister.
Leavitt explained the bruising was the result of routine aspirin use — part of a standard cardiovascular health regimen — coupled with frequent handshaking during public events.
“This is a well-known and harmless side effect of aspirin therapy,” she said. “The president remains physically active and in strong health, as witnessed daily.”
The White House previously released a medical report in April from Trump’s physician, Navy Capt. Sean P. Barbabella, which described Trump’s overall health as “excellent.” The report listed the president’s vital signs as: 6 feet 3 inches tall, 224 pounds, resting heart rate of 62 bpm, blood pressure of 128/74 mmHg, oxygen level of 99%, and body temperature of 98.6°F.
Despite the attention surrounding the images, the administration maintains there is no cause for concern and no changes to the president’s schedule are expected.
