Honestly, trying to pin down exactly what Donald Trump has been diagnosed with feels like trying to catch a cloud. One day he’s "the healthiest individual ever elected," and the next, critics are squinting at video clips trying to diagnose him from their living rooms. It's a lot.
But if we cut through the noise and the social media theories, there are actual, documented medical files. We’re talking about real reports from Walter Reed and memos signed by Navy captains.
The COVID-19 Crisis and the Lung "Infiltrates"
The most dramatic health event in recent years was definitely the October 2020 COVID-19 diagnosis. It wasn't just a "bad flu." While the White House was saying he was "fatigued but in good spirits," the reality behind the scenes was much scarier.
Doctors eventually admitted his blood oxygen levels dipped into the 80s. That’s dangerous. For context, most people need to be in the high 90s to breathe comfortably. He was treated with dexamethasone, a powerful steroid, and Remdesivir.
Reports later surfaced that he had "lung infiltrates," which is basically a fancy way of saying he had signs of pneumonia. It was serious enough that there was real talk about putting him on a ventilator. He didn't end up needing one, but it was a close call that he didn't fully acknowledge until much later.
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Chronic Venous Insufficiency: The 2025 Diagnosis
Fast forward to 2025, and a new term entered the chat: chronic venous insufficiency (CVI). This popped up after people noticed some "mild swelling" in his lower legs and occasional bruising on his hands.
Basically, CVI happens when the valves in your leg veins don't work right. Instead of blood flowing back up to your heart, it pools in your legs. It’s super common in older adults. It's not usually life-threatening, but it can be uncomfortable and cause that "heavy" feeling in the limbs. The White House disclosed this specifically to shut down rumors about more sinister neurological issues.
That Right Ear Injury
You can't talk about his "diagnoses" without mentioning the July 2024 assassination attempt. The official medical memo from Ronny Jackson described a 2 cm-wide gunshot wound on the upper part of his right ear.
There was a lot of back-and-forth about whether it was a bullet or shrapnel. The FBI eventually settled on a bullet (or a fragment of one). The diagnosis there was straightforward: a high-energy trauma wound. It didn't require stitches, but it did cause "marked swelling" and required significant time to granulate and heal. Some plastic surgeons have noted a "slight distortion" on the outer edge of the ear today, which makes sense given the nature of the injury.
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The Routine Stuff: From Rosacea to Cholesterol
Beyond the big headlines, Trump’s medical history includes a list of fairly "normal" conditions for a man in his late 70s.
- Hypercholesterolemia: This is just a big word for high cholesterol. He takes a statin (usually Crestor) to keep his LDL levels in check.
- Rosacea: A common skin condition that causes redness and visible blood vessels in the face.
- Diverticulosis: Found during a 2024 colonoscopy. It’s where small pouches develop in the wall of the colon. Most people don't even know they have it unless they get a scan.
- Actinic Keratosis: He’s had some sun-damaged skin spots treated, which is pretty standard for someone who spends as much time on a golf course as he does.
The Cognitive Question
This is where things get heated. Trump has repeatedly boasted about "acing" the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA). He famously scored a 30 out of 30.
But here’s the thing: the MoCA isn't an IQ test. It’s a screening tool. It asks you to identify an elephant, draw a clock, and remember five words. If you fail it, it’s a major red flag for dementia. If you pass it, it means your basic cognitive functions are intact, but it doesn't necessarily "prove" you’re a genius. His most recent reports from late 2025 and early 2026 continue to list his neurological exams as "normal."
Weight and Height: The "224 Pound" Debate
His 2025 physical listed him at 6 feet 3 inches and 224 pounds. That puts his BMI at 28.0, which is technically "overweight" but a significant drop from his 2020 weight of 244 pounds (which was in the "obese" range).
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There’s always been skepticism about these numbers. When he was booked in Georgia in 2023, the records said 215 pounds, which had people on the internet doing side-by-side comparisons with NFL quarterbacks. Regardless of the exact number, his doctors claim he’s lost weight recently due to an "active lifestyle" and better eating habits.
Actionable Insights for Tracking Public Health Data
If you're trying to stay informed about the health of public figures without getting lost in the conspiracy sauce, keep these things in mind:
- Look for the signatory: Is the report signed by a current White House Physician (like Navy Capt. Sean Barbabella) or a political ally? Official military doctors have different reporting standards.
- Check for specific vitals: A real medical summary should include BP (blood pressure), LDL/HDL (cholesterol), and BMI. Vague letters saying someone is "fit" without numbers are usually PR, not medicine.
- Understand the screening tools: When you hear about a "perfect" cognitive score, remember that tools like the MoCA are designed to catch impairment, not measure peak performance.
Staying skeptical but grounded in the released data is the only way to navigate the 24-hour news cycle. While we might not have every single page of his private medical file, the diagnoses we do have—from CVI to his history with COVID-19—paint a picture of an aging but medically managed individual.