After public speculation about visible bruises on Donald Trump’s hands and swelling in his legs, the White House confirmed that the 79-year-old president has been diagnosed with chronic venous insufficiency—a common and generally benign condition in older adults.
White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt explained that the condition occurs when damaged veins impair proper blood flow. She attributed the bruising on Trump’s hands to frequent handshaking and aspirin use for cardiovascular prevention.
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The National Institutes of Health notes that CVI is caused by faulty venous valves and can lead to symptoms like leg pain, swelling, skin discoloration, and in severe cases, venous ulcers. About 150,000 new cases are diagnosed each year.
Leavitt emphasized that Trump’s overall health is strong, with normal heart, kidney, and vascular function and no signs of serious illness such as deep vein thrombosis or arterial disease. She declined to discuss specific treatment plans.
The announcement follows past scrutiny over Trump’s medical transparency, including a 2015 letter by his doctor—later revealed to have been written by Trump himself—claiming he would be “the healthiest individual ever elected.”
During his 2024 campaign, Trump often criticized Joe Biden’s health, and Biden eventually withdrew from the race, with Kamala Harris losing to Trump in the general election.