President Donald Trump will undergo a “routine yearly checkup” at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center on Oct.10 – his second in just six months – as concerns intensify over the 79-year-old president’s health and physical condition.
Health concerns surrounding Donald Trump are especially striking given that, just last year, the now-79-year-old relentlessly attacked President Joe Biden over his age and mental abilities.
Yet Trump became the oldest person ever sworn into office when he began his second term in January at 78 years and seven months – surpassing Biden’s 2021 record by five months.
Now, as signs of growing health issues have emerged since his inauguration, the same questions Trump once weaponized against his political rival are being turned on him.
First annual checkup
On April 11, Trump underwent what the White House described as an “annual physical examination” at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center. The checkup, led by White House physician Dr. Sean Barbabella, included lab work and cognitive assessments.
“I am pleased to report that my long scheduled Annual Physical Examination will be done at Walter Reed Army Medical Center on Friday of this week. I have never felt better, but nevertheless, these things must be done!” Trump posted on Truth Social ahead of his appointment.
Following the exam, the results showed the POTUS had stable cholesterol, diverticulosis, and some skin conditions, but he was declared in “excellent health” and “fully fit” to execute his duties – a status that appeared to conflict with signs of decline that emerged shortly after.
Diagnosed with CVI
In July, the White House confirmed that Trump had been diagnosed with chronic venous insufficiency (CVI) – a vascular condition in which veins fail to return blood properly to the heart, usually in the legs and arms. The condition can lead to throbbing, swelling, skin discoloration, and in severe cases, open sores or limb damage.
In a letter to the administration, Dr. Barbabella said “no signs of heart failure, renal impairment, or systemic illness were identified.” The physician also addressed the growing attention on Trump’s physical appearance, attributing the president’s bruises to “minor soft tissue irritation from frequent handshaking and the use of aspirin,” as reported by Time.
That explanation came after Trump was spotted with large bruises on his hand. The discoloration drew even more attention when his team appeared to mask it with “copious amounts of foundation.”
In addition to the bruising, Trump has also exhibited signs of swollen ankles and, according to Time, apparent mental lapses.
Vance ready for new role
Public anxiety over Trump’s condition escalated further in August when the president disappeared from the public eye for two days, a rare absence for someone known for daily appearances. Online speculation exploded, with some commentators questioning whether Trump was facing a serious health event – or worse.
In an Aug. 27 interview with USA Today, Vice President JD Vance attempted to quell those rumors but only added to the growing concern.
“I’ve gotten a lot of good on-the-job training over the last 200 days,” Vance said. “The president is an incredibly good health. He’s got incredible energy.”
But Vance also added, “Yes, terrible tragedies happen.”
“I feel very confident the president of the United States is in good shape, is going to serve out the remainder of his term and do great things for the American people,” the VP told the outlet.
“And if, God forbid, there’s a terrible tragedy, I can’t think of better on-the-job training than what I’ve gotten over the last 200 days,” he added – a comment that fueled growing anxieties about Trump’s long-term fitness to serve.
Second annual checkup in six months
Now, Trump is returning to Walter Reed Medical Center, where he’ll not only deliver remarks to troops but also undergo what the White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt is calling a “routine yearly checkup.”
“On [Oct. 10] morning, President Trump will visit Walter Reed Medical Center for a planned meeting and remarks with the troops,” Leavitt said, per CNN. “While there, President Trump will stop by for his routine yearly checkup. He will then return to the White House. President Trump is considering going to the Middle East shortly thereafter.”
Trump: ‘Life is complex’
Despite these growing concerns, Trump has maintained his usual public bravado. In a recent Newsmax interview, he brushed aside health rumors, saying: “I feel the same or better than I did 30 years ago,” he said Oct. 6. “But let’s not even talk about it because who knows,” Trump added. “Who knows? Life is complex.”
This second checkup, coming just six months after his last full evaluation, has only intensified scrutiny over Trump’s health and whether the administration is being fully transparent about the president’s long-term fitness to serve.
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