President Trump Scheduled for Physical Examination Amid Health Concerns Over Visible Symptoms

President Donald Trump is scheduled for a physical examination on Friday amid growing concerns about his health, as evidenced by visible swelling in his ankles and a persistent bruise on his right hand.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt announced in a Wednesday statement, "On Friday morning, President Trump will visit Walter Reed Medical Center for a planned meeting and remarks with the troops. While there, President Trump will stop by for his routine yearly check up. President Trump is considering going to the Middle East shortly thereafter."

Although described as a routine annual examination, it's noteworthy that the 79-year-old president had his previous physical just six months ago on April 11.

In recent months, observers have noticed Trump experiencing swollen ankles and a continuing bruise on his right hand. The White House revealed in July that Trump had been diagnosed with chronic venous insufficiency, while maintaining that physicians had otherwise found the president in "excellent health."

According to medical information released by the White House, Trump's ankle swelling relates to this vein condition, which occurs when damaged valves within veins have difficulty maintaining proper blood flow from the legs back to the heart. Leavitt previously described it as a "common condition, particularly in individuals over the age of 70." The Cleveland Clinic reports that this disorder affects approximately one in 20 adults.

White House physician Sean Barbabella issued a memo stating that doctors found "no evidence of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) or arterial disease" and "no signs of heart failure, renal impairment, or systemic illness were identified."

Regarding the persistent bruising on Trump's hand, the White House attributed it to "minor soft tissue irritation from frequent hand-shaking" and a side effect of aspirin therapy, which the president takes as part of his cardiovascular prevention routine.

Trump holds the distinction of being the oldest president ever inaugurated when he took office in January. He has consistently maintained that his health is excellent, recently telling Newsmax, "I feel the same or better than I did 30 years ago."

His predecessor, former President Joe Biden, withdrew from the 2024 presidential race amid questions about his cognitive capabilities. During his first term, Trump was notably reluctant to disclose information about his medical evaluations.