Following questions about leg edema and noticeable bruising on his hands, the White House confirmed on Thursday, President Donald Trump has a mild vascular condition diagnosis. The 79-year-old president suffers from “chronic venous insufficiency,” a frequent condition in which damaged leg veins impede blood flow, according to a statement released by spokesman Karoline Leavitt.
The diagnosis was called harmless and not linked to any major cardiac or general consequences. Leavitt quoted Trump’s doctor and said the illness is seen often in people over 70. With his recent second term victory over Kamala Harris in the 2024 election, Trump is the oldest person to hold office as president in U.S. history.
Notwithstanding constant investigation on the health of the president—especially against the background of past attacks against former President Joe Biden’s age and fitness—Leavitt underlined that Trump’s test findings revealed no evidence of more serious problems such as deep vein thrombosis or arterial disease. His cardiac and renal systems seemed to be normal; there were no evidence of heart failure or general disease.
Visible bruises on the president’s hands have increased conjecture regarding his health in recent days. Leavitt said the marks were consistent with little soft tissue irritation possibly brought on by repeated handshakes and daily aspirin use—part of a regular cardiovascular prevention program—addressing those concerns.
Though the U.S. Constitution does not mandate presidents to reveal their medical condition, the disclosure of health updates has become routine in contemporary governments. During Trump’s first presidential run in 2015, when his personal doctor, Dr. Harold Bornstein, made a statement saying Trump would be the “healthiest individual ever elected,” the issue gained special attention. Bornstein later admitted that Trump himself dictated the note.
The White House’s publication of Trump’s most recent medical evaluation seems intended to quiet gossip and uphold the image of a president physically able to lead notwithstanding his age and previous scandals about openness in health reporting.
