You’ve seen the photos. Maybe you saw that clip from the White House lawn last week where the lighting caught him just right, and everyone on social media started spiraling. People are constantly asking, how sick is Trump? Honestly, if you listen to the White House, he’s a medical marvel with the "best genes" ever seen. If you listen to the late-night pundits or certain medical "experts" on podcasts, he’s practically on his last legs.
The truth, as it usually does, sits somewhere in the messy middle.
Right now, in early 2026, Donald Trump is 79 years old. He’s the oldest person to ever hold the office. That fact alone puts him under a microscope that would make anyone look a bit ragged. But lately, specific things—like those strange bruises on his hands and his habit of appearing to "rest his eyes" during long meetings—have turned the volume up on the rumors.
What’s With the Bruises and the Makeup?
The most visible "clue" people point to when wondering about the President's health is the back of his right hand. High-resolution photos from December and early January 2026 show dark, purple-ish bruising. Sometimes, it looks like it’s been slathered in heavy makeup to hide it.
Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt recently addressed this, basically saying it’s a non-issue. She blamed it on two things: constant handshaking and a daily aspirin regimen.
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Actually, Trump himself doubled down on this in a recent Wall Street Journal interview. He admitted he takes 325mg of aspirin every day. For context, most doctors recommend a "baby" aspirin (81mg) for heart health. Trump said his doctors actually want him to take the lower dose, but he’s "a little superstitious" and has been taking the big ones for 25 years. When you take that much aspirin at 79, your blood gets thin. You bump your hand on a podium, and boom—you look like you’ve been in a boxing match.
The Mystery of the Walter Reed CT Scan
Things got weird in October. The President made an unannounced trip to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center. At the time, he called it an MRI. Then, on January 1st, he corrected himself, saying it was actually a CT scan of his heart and abdomen.
Why the confusion?
- The MRI Claim: Trump initially said he had an MRI, which usually looks at soft tissue and can be used for anything from joint issues to neurological concerns.
- The CT Correction: He later told reporters he didn't really know the difference at the time. A CT scan is faster and often used to check for calcium buildup in the heart or issues in the gut.
- The Result: His physician, Dr. Sean Barbabella, issued a memo saying the results were "perfectly normal."
Despite the "perfect" report, critics like Bruce Davidson, a professor at Washington State University, have been making waves on podcasts claiming the President’s "shuffling gait" and "word garbling" earlier in 2025 were signs of a stroke. The White House called this "deranged wishcasting." Honestly, it’s hard to tell if he’s shuffling because of a medical event or just because he’s an 79-year-old man who refuses to wear compression socks.
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Chronic Venous Insufficiency: The Ankle Issue
Speaking of socks, there’s a real diagnosis we actually know about. Last summer, the White House confirmed Trump has chronic venous insufficiency.
Basically, the veins in his legs have a hard time pushing blood back up to his heart. This leads to swelling (edema) around the ankles. It’s super common in seniors, but it’s uncomfortable. Trump admitted he tried the compression socks his doctors recommended but hated them and stopped wearing them. If you see him looking a bit stiff when he walks or notice his pants looking tight around the ankles, that’s likely why.
"Acing" the Cognitive Tests... Again
You can't talk about how sick is Trump without talking about the mental side. On January 2, 2026, the President took to Truth Social to announce he had "ACED" his cognitive examination for the third time. He’s obsessed with these tests. He even suggested that anyone running for office should be forced to take them.
While he claims these tests prove he's a genius, medical experts point out that a standard cognitive screen (like the MoCA) is designed to detect significant impairment, like dementia. Scoring a 30/30 is great, but it’s not an IQ test. It just means you know what day it is and can identify a drawing of a lion.
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Still, the President’s schedule has noticeably "slimmed down" lately. He says it’s to focus on "important meetings," but insiders suggest he’s taking more time in the residence to rest. He still claims he doesn't sleep much—a habit from his first term—and usually hits the Oval Office around 10 a.m.
The Diet and the "Good Genetics" Defense
The most consistent part of Trump’s health story is his refusal to change his lifestyle. While he’s surrounded by "Make America Healthy Again" (MAHA) advocates like RFK Jr. and Pete Hegseth, he isn't exactly joining them for morning jogs.
- Exercise: He calls treadmills "boring." His only exercise is golf, and even then, he’s almost always in a cart.
- Diet: He’s still a fan of fast food. There was a report recently of a massive McDonald’s order being delivered to the White House.
- Philosophy: He genuinely believes in "battery theory"—that humans have a finite amount of energy and exercise just wastes it. He credits his stamina entirely to his "good genetics."
Real-World Signs to Watch
If you're trying to gauge how he's actually doing, stop looking at the "official" memos and look at the "tells."
- The Right Hand: If the bruising spreads or he starts favoring his left hand significantly, it could indicate vascular issues beyond just "aspirin skin."
- Stairs: Watch how he handles Air Force One. Lately, he’s been using the shorter stairs and gripping the handrail tightly with his left hand.
- Speech Patterns: Pay attention to "word salad" versus his usual hyperbole. Everyone misses a word now and then, but persistent garbling is what neurologists look for.
What This Means for 2026
Despite the rumors, there is no evidence that the President is incapacitated. He’s currently pushing a massive "Great Healthcare Plan" through Congress and signed the "One Big Beautiful Bill" last year. He’s active, he’s vocal, and he’s clearly in charge of his administration’s direction.
But he is 79. At that age, "perfect health" is a relative term. The bruising, the leg swelling, and the occasional daytime drowsiness are all classic signs of an aging body dealing with a high-stress job and a refusal to follow a "clean" lifestyle.
Actionable Insights:
- Look for primary sources: Whenever a "health scare" hits the news, look for the actual memo from Dr. Sean Barbabella or the White House physician’s office rather than just a headline.
- Understand the medication: If you or a family member are on high-dose aspirin (325mg), realize that bruising is a standard side effect, but it can mask other issues.
- Monitor the schedule: A President's public "up-time" is the best indicator of their physical stamina. Watch for shifts in the timing of his public addresses.
The question of how sick is Trump will likely follow him through the rest of his term. In the absence of a full, transparent medical release—which we haven't seen since before 2015—we're left piecing together the truth from the back of a hand and a walk down a flight of stairs.