Donald Trump Diagnosed with Chronic Illness, White House Confirms Amid Speculation
Donald Trump has been diagnosed with a chronic medical condition, according to a statement released by the White House following growing public speculation.
Concerns about Trump’s health escalated after images showing swelling in his legs and visible bruises on his hands circulated online. On Thursday, White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt addressed these concerns, revealing that the former president has been diagnosed with chronic venous insufficiency, a condition she described as “common and benign,” especially among older adults, according to Forbes.
“Chronic venous insufficiency occurs when damaged veins hinder proper blood circulation,” Leavitt said, citing a letter from Trump’s physician.
The diagnosis came after rising curiosity over the bruising on Trump’s hands—something Leavitt attributed to “minor soft tissue irritation caused by frequent handshaking and aspirin use,” the latter being part of Trump’s routine cardiovascular health regimen.
According to the National Institutes of Health, the condition is typically caused by faulty venous valves. Symptoms may include swelling, discomfort, skin discoloration, itching, and heaviness in the limbs. If left untreated, it can significantly affect quality of life and lead to complications such as venous ulcers. Around 150,000 new cases are diagnosed in the U.S. each year.
At 79 years old, Trump is the oldest person to have served as U.S. president. During the 2024 election, he often criticized Joe Biden’s physical and cognitive health—claims that gained traction until Biden stepped down from the race in July, passing the Democratic nomination to Kamala Harris, who was later defeated by Trump in the general election.
Despite the scrutiny surrounding Trump’s own health, Leavitt emphasized that his medical tests showed “normal cardiac structure and function” and found “no evidence of heart failure, kidney issues, or any systemic disease.” She also clarified that there were no signs of “deep vein thrombosis or arterial disease.”
When asked whether Trump would undergo any specific treatment, Leavitt deferred to his physician, stating, “We’ll leave that to the doctor.”
While U.S. presidents are not required by law to release their medical records, it is common practice to share routine physicals and health updates. Trump’s history with health disclosures has been controversial; during his 2015 campaign, his longtime doctor Harold Bornstein declared him “the healthiest individual ever elected”—a letter Bornstein later admitted was dictated by Trump himself.
