Medical speculation has hit an all-time high over the physical and mental state of Donald Trump. As the oldest person ever to hold the keys to the Oval Office, every stumble, mark and public statement from the 80-year-old US President is put under a magnifying glass.
While the White House insists the veteran politician is in tip-top shape, critics and medical pundits tell a dramatically different story.
With every public appearance dissected frame by frame online, speculation surrounding his physical endurance and cognitive fitness shows no signs of slowing down. Here are five of the wildest recent health claims surrounding Trump.
The ‘ungodly pong’ and funeral naps
Social media speculation exploded following footage from a memorial service for late South Carolina senator Lindsey Graham at Washington National Cathedral.
Viewers accused the president of dozing off, while the guest seated behind him appeared to be reacting to a horrific stench.
Journalist Aaron Rupar posted: “Look at the guy behind Trump (who is asleep). It smells crazy back there.”
Keyboard sleuths quickly jumped to conclusions, claiming Trump was suffering from severe incontinence. The White House issued a furious denial that he was sleeping.
Wild incontinence and heart failure rumours
Physical therapist Adam James caused a stir after making shocking claims about the 80-year-old’s health, alleging the president is “not going to be around much longer”.
James claimed Trump suffers from congestive heart failure alongside chronic kidney failure.
He told followers: “I have just received a DM from a source who confirmed for me that the President consistently smells like urine because of his urinary incontinence.”
He added: “He’s not going to be around much longer because he is running out of options to manage his congestive heart failure and chronic kidney disease.”
‘Plane’ crazy aviation gaffes
Fresh mental health fears erupted after Trump gave a speech at a General Motors facility in Michigan, claiming aircraft were non-existent while his late father Fred Trump was alive.
Trump told the crowd: “I had a wonderful father, right, and he was a hard worker who was in the real estate business…He didn’t want planes.” He added: “They didn’t have planes in those days, I don’t think.”
Trying to brush off the rambling, Trump said: “Just to mention, you know, it’s called the weave, right? I go from one – we always get back to the right subject.”
Online commentators quickly pointed out that Fred Trump lived from 1905 to 1999 – decades after the Wright brothers’ first flight in 1903.
Whispers of ‘deterioration’ behind closed doors
Insiders close to the president are allegedly terrified that his condition is rapidly worsening under the intense strain of global conflicts.
Writing in the Daily Mail, journalist Andrew Neil dropped a bombshell quote: “‘Donald is deteriorating before our very eyes,’ I was told in Washington this week by a close confidant who sees him regularly.”
Neil added: “His physical and mental health is in decline. Those around him don’t know what to do about it. It can only get worse. He’s 80 – and it’s showing’.”
Official ‘perfect health’ vs mysterious bruises
Despite the rumours, official White House reports paint a different picture. White House physician Sean Barbarella maintained the president “remains in excellent health”, noting he “exhibits excellent cognitive and physical health and is fully fit to execute the duties of the Commander-in-Chief and Head of State.”
The memo attributed hand bruising to “minor soft tissue irritation from frequent handshaking and the use of aspirin”. However, independent experts remain sceptical.
Dr Jonathan Reiner told reporters the explanation “doesn’t make sense”, noting: “If you’re taking too much aspirin, one would likely take less aspirin.”
Undeterred, Trump boasted about his recent scans, saying: “It wasn’t the brain because I took a cognitive test and I aced it.” Former White House physician Dr Jeffrey Kuhlman summarised the mounting public anxiety. He said: “I think concern for the president’s physical health is probably at an all-time high, and I think advanced physical age is the number one concern.”
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