Trump diagnosed with vein disease tied to swollen ankles

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White House doctors diagnosed Donald Trump with chronic venous insufficiency, though the physicians said the U.S. president remained in “excellent health,” Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said.

Trump, 79, underwent an exam after recent photos showed the president with swollen ankles and a bruised hand, Leavitt announced Thursday.

The ankle swelling is related to the venous disease, which occurs when damaged valves struggle to keep blood flowing from the legs back to the heart. Leavitt called it a “common condition, particularly in individuals over the age of 70.”

“Importantly, there was no evidence of deep vein thrombosis or arterial disease,” the spokeswoman said. “The president remains in excellent health.”

Leavitt said there is “no discomfort for the president” related to his ankles. She did not detail any treatment he is receiving, saying the White House physician’s office would release a memo with more information.

Trump underwent a “comprehensive examination” out of an “abundance of caution” after noting the swelling in his lower legs, Leavitt said. The exam included vascular studies, an echocardiogram and ultrasounds.

The hand bruising is “minor soft tissue irritation from frequent hand-shaking” and is also “a well-known and benign side effect of aspirin therapy,” Leavitt said. Trump is taking the medicine as a part of a “standard cardiovascular prevention regimen,” she said.

In January, Trump became the oldest person ever to be inaugurated U.S. president, taking the title from his immediate predecessor Joe Biden.

During the 2024 election, Trump hammered Biden, who is now 82, over his age and stamina. The former president eventually withdrew from the race after a calamitous debate performance that exacerbated scrutiny of his fitness.

The photos of Trump’s hands and ankles triggered questions about the president’s own health, however.

Trump’s ankles appeared to be bulging in his socks in photos taken last weekend at the FIFA Club World Cup. On Tuesday, a substance that appeared to be makeup covered up markings on the president’s hand, which was seen by reporters as he departed the White House for a trip to Pennsylvania.