President Donald Trump underwent emergency heart and leg testing this week after his lower limbs appeared swollen. The White House disclosed the health concerns on Thursday, offering new details from his medical team.
Over the past few days, images circulating online showed Trump with visibly puffy ankles and a dark bruise on the back of his right hand. Speculation ranged from makeup to IV marks. The rising chatter forced action.
At a press briefing, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said Trump was evaluated by the White House medical unit. She shared that diagnostic vascular studies and a bilateral lower extremity venous Doppler ultrasound were performed. These tests revealed that he has chronic venous insufficiency. Leavitt described the condition as “benign and common, particularly in individuals over the age of 70” .
Chronic venous insufficiency occurs when veins in the legs struggle to return blood to the heart. It can cause swelling, aches, and over time lead to skin changes or other complications .
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Trump also received an echocardiogram, which checked the structure and function of his heart. Leavitt told reporters that it “confirmed normal cardiac struct and function.” The full panel of blood tests and other labs were “within normal limits” . Trump’s physician, Dr. Sean Barbabella, concluded that “President Trump remains in excellent health” .
Leavitt addressed the unusual bruise on his hand, saying it was due to “minor soft tissue irritation from frequent handshaking and the use of aspirin, which is taken as part of a standard cardiovascular prevention regimen” and called it “a well‑known and benign side effect of aspirin therapy” .
Still, the sight of swollen ankles during the FIFA Club World Cup final on July 13 reignited concerns. Online reactions noted the visible puffiness and discoloration .
Earlier in April, White House officials had claimed Trump’s “blood flow to his extremities is unimpaired” and that he was in “excellent health” . The sudden emergence of leg swelling and bruising led to a round of emergency testing.
Medical experts say chronic venous insufficiency is common in older adults and generally treatable. Standard care includes lifestyle changes such as exercise and leg elevation, and possibly compression therapy. In severe cases, medical procedures may be needed . But Leavitt emphasized that Trump is not experiencing pain .
This medical update signals a rare moment of transparency from a White House often reluctant to disclose health details about its leader. It also feeds into broader age‑related concerns around 79-year‑old Trump—who once mocked President Biden’s legs as “toothpicks” .
Featured image via Political Tribune Gallery
