Fresh considerations about Trump’s well being as cankles return days after bizarre neck rash
Trump once described himself as “the healthiest president that’s ever lived”, but social media users have questioned his physical well-being after his swollen ankles resurfaced in new photographs
Trump was seen with a weird rash last week(Image: AP)
Donald Trump has sparked fresh health concerns after eagle-eyed social media users spotted his “swollen ankles” in photographs of him returning to Washington.
Pictures of the US President striding across the White House lawn after visiting Florida over the weekend, reignited speculation surrounding his ankles, which are reportedly inflamed due to a chronic vein condition he suffers from.
One social media user wrote: “New images released of Trump’s massively swollen ankle. What’s going on?” It comes after Trump was seen with a rash on the side of his neck during the Medal of Honor Ceremony at the White House last Monday.
A second X user wrote: “My goodness, his cankles are famous now. Look, the hands, the neck rash, the cankles, the infusion bruises, the slurred speech…. He is the healthiest POTUS ever. BTW, his physician should have his license taken away for that statement.”
Trump, 79, once described himself as “the healthiest president that’s ever lived”. But he is the oldest person to ever become president and was last month seen nodding off during a lengthy first meeting of his so-called “Board of Peace”.
The White House last week said Trump was “using a very common cream on the right side of his neck” which it described as “preventative skin treatment”. The statement did not specify what the cream is or why Trump needed the skin treatment.
The White House confirmed last June that Trump had been diagnosed with chronic venous insufficiency, which occurs when leg veins fail to pump blood to the heart, causing it to pool in the lower limbs, which can then become swollen.
His spin doctor Karoline Leavitt announced the diagnosis after days of speculation regarding photographs showing bruising and swelling on the US president’s hand.
She said at the time Trump’s bruised hand was consistent with “tissue damage from frequent handshaking” while taking aspirin, which she said is “part of a standard cardio-vascular prevention regimen”.
His ankles first came into the national spotlight in the US earlier this month at the FIFA Club World Cup. Images shared online focused in on his visibly swollen ankles.
Venous insufficiency, in which blood pools in the legs as a result of compromised valves, is one of the more prevalent causes of swollen ankles and feet, the Irish Star reports.
Prolonged standing or sitting can raise pressure in the lower extremities, and injuries like sprains and fractures can cause inflammation. Additionally, leg swelling may indicate renal or liver problems, congestive heart failure, or deep vein thrombosis.
In September, a White House source reportedly admitted Trump preferred to hold events in the Oval Office or large meeting spaces so he “doesn’t actually have to stand up for prolonged periods of time.”
Trump repeatedly made fun of Joe Biden’s own purported physical and mental health conditions during his 2024 campaign, claiming he was unfit to hold the position.
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