Donald Trump is 79 years old now. By the time he finishes this second term, he’ll be 82, making him the oldest sitting president in the history of the United States. Naturally, everyone is asking the same thing: how is Trump’s health actually holding up under the pressure of the Oval Office?
If you listen to the White House, he’s basically a superhuman. If you watch the viral clips on social media, you might think he’s on the verge of a collapse. The truth, as it usually does, sits somewhere in the messy middle.
Honestly, trying to pin down the medical reality of a man who calls himself a "perfect specimen" is a challenge. But we have some actual data points from 2025 and early 2026 that paint a clearer picture than the campaign trail rhetoric ever did.
The Walter Reed Mystery: MRI or CT Scan?
Back in October 2025, things got weird. Trump went to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center for what was called a "routine" visit, but then he started talking about getting an MRI. For those who aren't medical pros, doctors don't usually just "throw in" an MRI for a fun weekend checkup. They use them to look for specific issues in soft tissue, the brain, or the heart.
Naturally, the rumor mill went into overdrive.
Trump later backtracked in a Wall Street Journal interview on New Year’s Day 2026. He claimed he actually had a CT scan, not an MRI, and said he didn't even know what part of his body was being scanned at the time. "I have no idea what they analyzed," he said, before adding that the results were the best the doctors had ever seen.
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The official line from White House Physician Dr. Sean Barbabella is that the "advanced imaging" was purely preventative. According to the December 2025 memo, the scans focused on his heart and abdomen. They found no arterial narrowing and no "acute or chronic concerns." Basically, his plumbing looks okay for a man in his late 70s.
Bruises, Band-Aids, and Handshakes
You’ve probably seen the photos. Since mid-2025, there’s been a lot of chatter about conspicuous bruising on the back of the President's right hand. Sometimes it’s covered with a Band-Aid; other times it looks like it’s been hit with a heavy layer of stage makeup that doesn't quite match his skin tone.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt chalked it up to "frequent handshaking" and the use of aspirin.
Trump himself admitted he takes a 325mg aspirin every single day. That’s a full-strength dose. Most doctors suggest a "baby aspirin" (81mg) for heart health if they suggest it at all. Trump says he’s "superstitious" about it and has been taking the big dose for 25 years. When you're on blood thinners like that, you bruise if a breeze hits you too hard. It’s a common side effect, but it certainly keeps the "what’s wrong with his hand?" headlines moving.
Chronic Venous Insufficiency: The Ankle Issue
The White House actually did confirm one specific diagnosis last summer: Chronic Venous Insufficiency (CVI).
This happens when the valves in your leg veins don't work right, making it hard for blood to get back up to your heart. It causes blood to "pool" in the lower legs. If you look closely at footage of Trump getting off Air Force One, you can sometimes see noticeable swelling around his ankles.
His doctors recommended compression socks. Trump, being Trump, tried them for a bit and then ditched them because he hated how they felt. It’s not a life-threatening condition, but it explains why he’s often seen sitting during events where others are standing. It also explains that "shuffling" gait that critics often point to as a sign of neurological decline.
The Cognitive Question: "I Aced It"
We can't talk about how is Trump’s health without mentioning the mental side. This is where the divide is widest.
Professor Bruce Davidson from Washington State University made waves on a podcast recently, claiming Trump showed signs of a "left-side brain stroke" based on his gait and the way he cradles his right hand. The White House called this "deranged wishcasting" and "fake news."
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In December 2025, Trump insisted he "aced" another cognitive test. He frequently points to his 2018 Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) score of 30/30 as proof of his sharpness.
Critics like Tim Walz have been vocal, suggesting the President is "fading" and pointing to late-night social media rants as evidence of a lack of impulse control. But from a clinical standpoint? The White House's April 2025 physical report claimed a perfect MoCA score. Unless an independent doctor gets a look at him, we’re stuck with the official reports vs. the "armchair diagnoses" from TV pundits.
Vital Stats from the 2025 Physical:
- Weight: 224 lbs (Down from his 2024 campaign weight).
- Blood Pressure: 128/74 mmHg (Pretty solid).
- Cholesterol: LDL at 51 mg/dL (Very low, thanks to Rosuvastatin).
- Heart Rate: 62 bpm.
The Diet Revolution (At Least for the Rest of Us)
It’s pretty ironic. In early 2026, the Trump administration—led by RFK Jr. at HHS—released new dietary guidelines that "declared war" on added sugar and processed foods. They’re pushing "real food" and beef tallow while the President is still famously a fan of well-done steaks and fast food.
There’s no evidence Trump has suddenly started eating kale salads. He still credits his "great genes" for his energy levels. He claims he doesn't sleep much—never has—and starts his day in the residence around 10 a.m.
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He’s also not a gym guy. He famously believes the human body is like a battery with a finite amount of energy, and exercise just uses it up. His only real "workout" is golf, and even then, he’s almost always in a cart.
Actionable Takeaways for Monitoring the Situation
If you're trying to keep a realistic eye on the President's health without the political spin, watch for these three specific things:
- Public Appearance Frequency: In late 2025, the New York Times noted Trump's public appearances dropped by nearly 40% compared to his first term. If he starts disappearing for 3-4 days at a time regularly, that’s usually a sign of fatigue or a "recharge" period.
- Gait and Balance: Watch how he navigates stairs. The "stroke" rumors persist because he frequently uses the shorter stairs on Air Force One and grips the rail tightly with his left hand.
- Speech Patterns: Sudden increases in "word salad" or phonemic paraphasia (substituting similar-sounding words) are more reliable indicators of cognitive change than just being tired or angry.
The reality of how is Trump's health is that he is a 79-year-old man with a high-stress job and a history of heart disease markers (like his 2018 calcium score). While he isn't the "dying man" some critics claim, he’s also clearly managing the standard issues that come with aging, from circulation problems to the side effects of long-term medication use. As we move further into 2026, the transparency of his medical team—or the lack thereof—will likely remain the biggest story in Washington.