Photos of President Donald Trump’s swollen legs and bruised hand have stirred public chatter, but the White House says there’s no cause for alarm.
Fox News reported that images from a FIFA game in New Jersey on Sunday showed Trump’s legs appearing swollen, while his hand, caked with makeup, revealed bruising. The White House quickly countered concerns with a medical update, revealing Trump, at 79, has chronic venous insufficiency, a common condition in older adults.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, in a Thursday briefing, shared a physician’s note to quell speculation about Trump’s health. “In an effort of transparency,” Leavitt said, the update confirmed Trump underwent a thorough medical examination by the White House Medical Unit.
But transparency only goes so far when progressive media amplifies every blemish as a scandal, conveniently ignoring the benign nature of aging.
Dr. Sean P. Barbabella’s memorandum, posted online Thursday, declared Trump in “excellent health” despite the visible symptoms. The diagnosis of chronic venous insufficiency explains the leg swelling, a condition where weakened vein valves let blood pool in the lower legs.
Scott A. Sundick, M.D., a vascular surgeon, noted to Fox News Digital that this is a frequent complaint among older patients, hardly a crisis.
Tests like venous Doppler ultrasound and echocardiogram ruled out dangerous conditions such as deep vein thrombosis or heart failure. “Importantly, there was no evidence of deep vein thrombosis or arterial disease,” Leavitt emphasized, dismissing rumors of severe illness.
Yet, the left-leaning echo chamber thrives on fearmongering, blowing cosmetic issues out of proportion to undermine a president they can’t outargue. The hand bruising, per Dr. Barbabella, stems from frequent handshaking and aspirin use, part of Trump’s standard heart health regimen.
Aspirin, as Sundick explained, inhibits platelet function, reducing clot risks but making bruising more likely with minor trauma. Dr. Marc Siegel, Fox News’ senior medical analyst, added that aging skin, less elastic and fragile, bruises easily, especially with aspirin.
“As you age, your skin can become more friable,” Siegel told Fox News Digital, calling the condition “completely benign and cosmetic.”
Siegel’s take on “America Reports” Thursday was blunt: “I don’t think there’s anything hidden there at all.”
Still, the outrage machine churns, desperate to paint Trump as frail while ignoring his relentless schedule at 79. Siegel suggested compression stockings and leg elevation to manage swelling, practical solutions for a non-issue overblown by critics.
“It’s expected for a man who’s in his late 70s and standing on his feet all the time,” Siegel said on “America Reports.” The progressive obsession with Trump’s appearance reeks of hypocrisy, given their silence on other leaders’ health quirks when it suits their narrative.
Chronic venous insufficiency, Sundick clarified, results from weakened vein valves, causing blood to pool and legs to swell. “Under normal circumstances, blood returns to the heart from the legs,” Sundick said, explaining how leg muscle contractions aid circulation.
Treatment options, like compression stockings or venous ablation, are straightforward, yet the media spins this as a gotcha moment.
The bruising, tied to aspirin’s well-known side effect, is no mystery, despite attempts to sensationalize a routine medical regimen. “Aspirin works by inhibiting platelet function,” Sundick noted, a standard preventive measure for cardiovascular health in older adults.
The White House’s swift response, backed by diagnostics, undercuts the left’s narrative of a president in decline. Siegel’s reassurance on “America Reports” called the condition “not serious,” a fact lost on those peddling health conspiracies.
“I accept the explanation that Trump’s hand bruising is caused by vigorous handshaking,” Siegel said, grounding the issue in reality.
While the woke crowd clutches pearls over a bruise, the White House’s transparency exposes their selective outrage for what it is: politics, not concern.
