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The recurring questions about Trump's physical health

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You're probably here because of the May 2026 rerun. This is the 14th time since 2016 (archive start) this story has run. The previous rerun was Mar 2026.

About this story

Since 2018, public questions about Donald Trump's physical health have come back again and again. The triggers have included physician briefings, unannounced or unexplained visits to Walter Reed hospital, his 2020 COVID-19 hospitalization, and visible signs such as swollen ankles, hand bruises and a neck rash. The White House and his physicians have repeatedly described his health in strong terms ("excellent," "exceptional," "perfectly normal"). Some accounts were later added to or changed: how sick he was with COVID-19, whether a 2025 scan was an MRI or a CT scan, and the explanations given for the bruises on his hands.

Sources: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6

20162026

May 2026 Third Walter Reed checkup in 13 months (May 2026)

On May 26, 2026, Trump had what ABC called his "third scheduled medical appointment at Walter Reed in 13 months." Axios counted it as his fourth publicly acknowledged checkup of his second term. He called it a "6 month physical." Three days later the White House released a memo from physician Navy Capt. Sean Barbabella saying Trump "remains in excellent health." The memo again explained the hand bruising and the lower-leg swelling, which had drawn coverage since his July 2025 diagnosis of chronic venous insufficiency. Axios reported that the memo "didn't put to rest persistent questions about apparent bruising on Trump's hands, swollen ankles," and quoted outside physicians Jonathan Reiner and Bob Wachter raising unanswered questions.

  • ABC News article
    President Donald Trump remains in excellent health, demonstrating strong cardiac, pulmonary, neurological, and overall physical function.
  • ABC News article
    Just finished my 6 month physical at Walter Reed Military Medical Center. Everything checked out PERFECTLY.
  • Axios article
    It took three days to release the findings, which arrived at 10:44pm ET on a Friday night.

Sources: ABC News reliable · Axios reliable · Yahoo News reliable

Mar 2026 Neck redness at the Medal of Honor ceremony

On March 2, 2026, photos from the Medal of Honor ceremony in the White House East Room showed red, irritated skin on the right side of Trump's neck. NBC reported it had also been seen in photographs from his State of the Union address the previous week, and AP photos showed redness on his neck as early as Feb. 19. The same day, his physician, Dr. Sean Barbabella, said in a statement: "President Trump is using a very common cream on the right side of his neck, which is a preventative skin treatment, prescribed by the White House Doctor… The President is using this treatment for one week, and the redness is expected to last for a few weeks." NBC reported that Barbabella didn't say which cream it was or what the treatment was for. Dr. Elizabeth Bahar Houshmand, a dermatologist quoted by HuffPost (via Yahoo News), speculated that the "most likely explanation" was treatment for sun-induced skin damage; the White House did not say what the cream treats. The coverage tied the episode to earlier questions about Trump's health, including his hand bruises and his October 2025 evaluation at Walter Reed.

  • NBC News article
    Barbabella didn't specify what cream Trump is using and didn't explain the purpose of the preventive treatment.
  • Yahoo News article
    the most likely explanation is that the president is undergoing treatment for actinic (sun-induced) skin damage
  • Fox News article
    President Trump is using a very common cream on the right side of his neck, which is a preventative skin treatment, prescribed by the White House Doctor

Sources: NBC News reliable · Yahoo News reliable · Fox News needs a second source · Yahoo News reliable

Jan 2026 Davos hand bruise

On Thursday, January 22, 2026, MS NOW reported that a "deep purple, blue and red mark" was visible on the back of Trump's left hand while he spoke at the Board of Peace signing ceremony in Davos. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said in a statement that Trump "hit his hand on the corner of the signing table, causing it to bruise." Trump himself said he "clipped it on the table," according to CNN's headline as republished by CTV News. MS NOW said that "various photographs in recent months have shown discoloration on his hands," and that the White House has blamed that bruising on his daily aspirin and frequent handshaking. This bruise was on his left hand rather than his right.

  • ms.now article
    An MS NOW review of video footage from the ceremony could not identify a moment when such an incident occurred, although it is possible the injury happened off-camera.
  • ctvnews.ca article
    The White House said Thursday that bruising on President Donald Trump's left hand stemmed from him hitting it on the signing table during a Board of Peace event in Davos, Switzerland, earlier in the day.

Sources: ms.now needs a second source · ctvnews.ca needs a second source

Jan 2026 WSJ interview: aspirin dose and "It wasn't an MRI"

In an interview the Wall Street Journal published January 1, 2026, Trump said he takes more aspirin than his doctors recommend. He linked it to the hand bruising seen through 2025: "I want nice, thin blood pouring through my heart." His physician, Navy Capt. Sean Barbabella, said the dose is 325 milligrams a day. The official account of the October 2025 Walter Reed imaging also changed. Trump had said for weeks that he had an MRI. He told the Journal, "It wasn't an MRI… It was less than that. It was a scan," and Barbabella confirmed it was a CT scan. Press secretary Karoline Leavitt said the president's "physicians and the White House have always maintained the president received advanced imaging."

  • wsj.com article
    I want nice, thin blood pouring through my heart. Does that make sense?
  • Public Broadcasting Service article
    In retrospect, it's too bad I took it because it gave them a little ammunition.
  • ABC News article
    It wasn't an MRI," Trump told the Journal. "It was less than that. It was a scan.

Sources: Public Broadcasting Service reliable · ABC News reliable · abc.net.au needs a second source · NPR reliable

Nov 2025 – Dec 2025 "Advanced imaging" memo and Cabinet meeting

In late October, Trump said he had an MRI as part of "advanced imaging" tests at Walter Reed. He didn't say what the scan was for. On Nov 30 he said of the body part, "I have no idea… It wasn't the brain." On Dec 1, a memo from physician Sean P. Barbabella said the imaging covered his heart and abdomen. It called the imaging "preventive" and the results "perfectly normal," and did not use the word "MRI." A day later, the New York Times reported that Trump appeared to fight sleep during the Cabinet meeting. Leavitt responded that he was "listening attentively and running the entire" meeting.

  • presidency.ucsb.edu statement
    President Trump's cardiovascular imaging is perfectly normal.
  • ABC News article
    I have no idea. It was just an MRI -- what part of the body? It wasn't the brain, because I took a cognitive test and I aced it.
  • irishtimes.com article
    the president, who is 79, sometimes appeared to struggle to keep his eyes open
  • youtube.com video
    It Wasn't the Brain

Sources: presidency.ucsb.edu reliable · ABC News reliable · irishtimes.com needs a second source

Oct 2025 Second Walter Reed visit of 2025 and the "MRI"

On Oct. 8, 2025, press secretary Karoline Leavitt said: "While there, President Trump will stop by for his routine yearly check up." An Associated Press report carried by Military.com noted that Trump "had his annual physical in April" and that the White House "declined to explain why Trump was getting a yearly checkup at Walter Reed" six months later. Trump told reporters on Oct. 9 that it was a "semiannual physical." After the Oct. 10 visit, physician Sean Barbabella's letter said Trump "remains in exceptional health, exhibiting strong cardiovascular, pulmonary, neurological, and physical performance." According to ABC News, the letter said the visit included advanced imaging, lab testing and preventive health assessments by a team of specialists. On Oct. 27, aboard Air Force One, Trump said, "I did. I got an MRI. It was perfect." CNN reported this was "the first time he has provided a reason for his second medical exam this year," and that Trump declined to say why he received the MRI, telling reporters to "ask the doctors."

  • x.com social post
    Reporter: Did you get an MRI? Trump: I did. I got an MRI. It was perfect.
  • CNN article
    President Donald Trump said that he received an MRI scan during a recent trip to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center – marking the first time he has provided a reason for his second medical exam this year and raising new questions about the president’s health.
  • ABC News article
    President Donald J. Trump remains in exceptional health, exhibiting strong cardiovascular, pulmonary, neurological, and physical performance.
  • youtube.com video
    It was perfect.

Sources: NBC News reliable · military.com needs a second source · ABC News reliable · CNN reliable

Aug 2025 – Sep 2025 Labor Day weekend "Trump is dead" rumors

Over the Labor Day weekend, social media posts questioned whether Trump was seriously ill or dead. PolitiFact rated false a viral video claiming his official schedule had been "suspended" after a "vascular condition" diagnosis; PolitiFact noted that the White House had announced in July 2025 that he has chronic venous insufficiency. Fox News reported the speculation was also fed by "an empty public schedule and recycled photos showing bruising on his hand." On Aug. 31, Trump posted on Truth Social, "NEVER FELT BETTER IN MY LIFE" (per Snopes). On Sept. 2 he told reporters "I was very active during the weekend" (PolitiFact) and called the speculation "fake news" (Fox News).

  • PolitiFact article
    It all began when the president's official schedule was suddenly suspended without any convincing explanation, sparking doubts about his true state of health.
  • truthsocial.com social post
    NEVER FELT BETTER IN MY LIFE
  • Fox News article
    I didn't do anything for two days, and they said, 'There must be something wrong with him,'

Sources: PolitiFact reliable · Fox News needs a second source · Snopes reliable · PolitiFact reliable

Jul 2025 Swollen ankles, chronic venous insufficiency diagnosis, hand bruise and makeup

On July 17, 2025, Leavitt read a memo from White House physician Sean Barbabella. It said Trump had been evaluated after noticing "mild swelling" in his lower legs and had been diagnosed with chronic venous insufficiency, "a benign and common condition, particularly in individuals over the age of 70." The memo said the bruising on the back of his hand was "consistent with minor soft tissue irritation from frequent handshaking and the use of aspirin." The announcement followed photos of swollen ankles at the July 13 Club World Cup final and a July 15 close-up of makeup on his hand. NPR noted that the April 2025 physical did not mention the condition and had said "blood flow to his extremities is unimpaired."

  • cbsnews.com article
    This is consistent with minor soft tissue irritation from frequent handshaking and the use of aspirin, which is taken as part of a standard cardiovascular prevention regimen," the memo said.
  • ABC News article
    The president remains in excellent health," Leavitt said.
  • The Daily Beast article
    Trump was speaking to reporters when a camera zoomed in on the president's hand.

Sources: ABC News reliable · cbsnews.com reliable · NPR reliable · The Daily Beast needs a second source

Feb 2021 Report that Trump was sicker with COVID-19 than disclosed

On February 11, 2021, CNBC reported that the New York Times, citing four people familiar with his condition, said that during his October 2020 COVID-19 illness Trump had "extremely depressed blood oxygen levels at one point and a lung problem associated with pneumonia caused by the coronavirus," and that "officials believed he would be put on a ventilator" before he was taken to Walter Reed. CNN reported the same day that "there was talk of putting him on a ventilator, according to what Trump told one person at the time." At the time, his physician, Dr. Sean Conley, said Trump "is not on oxygen right now" and that scans showed "expected findings, but nothing of any major clinical concern." Conley later said he had tried to "reflect the upbeat nature of the team" (per Global News). Dr. Ashish Jha, dean of the Brown University School of Public Health, told CNN that Conley "at that time was clearly being evasive and deceptive." The report is a later disclosure that differs from the official account given during the hospitalization.

  • CNN article
    Former President Donald Trump’s condition after testing positive for Covid-19 became so concerning last October that there was talk of putting him on a ventilator, according to what Trump told one person at the time.
  • cnbc.com article
    Former President Donald Trump was more seriously sick from the coronavirus in October than the public was told at the time, a new report said.

Sources: cnbc.com reliable · globalnews.ca needs a second source · CNN reliable

Oct 2020 COVID-19 hospitalization and the shifting oxygen accounts

At a briefing outside Walter Reed on October 3, 2020, White House physician Sean Conley repeatedly refused to say whether the president ever needed supplemental oxygen, despite repeated questioning. That same day, the AP reported, citing an unnamed person familiar with Trump's condition, that the president was administered oxygen at the White House on Friday before he was transported to the military hospital. On October 4, Conley confirmed Trump had received supplemental oxygen at the White House when his blood oxygen level dipped. He also said Trump had been given the steroid dexamethasone after his oxygen level had dropped down to 93% on Saturday. This is an episode where the official account of Trump's physical condition changed within about 24 hours.

  • cbc.ca article
    Thursday no oxygen. None at this moment. And yesterday with the team, while we were all here, he was not on oxygen,
  • witf.org article
    I was trying to reflect the upbeat attitude of the team, that the president, that his course of illness has had.
  • Al Jazeera article
    transient low oxygen levels
  • c-span.org video Watch
    he is not on oxygen right now

Sources: cbc.ca needs a second source · witf.org needs a second source · Al Jazeera reliable

Jun 2020 West Point ramp and water glass

After Trump's June 13, 2020 commencement speech at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, video of his slow walk down a ramp circulated widely, and Fox News reported concerns about how he handled a glass of water and walked down the ramp. CNN reported that Trump "appeared to have difficulty lifting his right arm to his mouth, so he used his left hand to push the bottom of the glass higher." Trump explained the ramp in a tweet, saying it was "very long & steep, had no handrail and, most importantly, was very slippery." CNN noted that "it had not rained beforehand and others were seen walking normally down the decline," and that Trump "did not address the water glass episode on Twitter." At his June 20 Tulsa rally he gave a longer account, which a CNN analysis put at 1,798 words. In it he said he was "wearing leather bottom shoes," which are "not good for ramps," and that he did not want to "get water on the tie." Fox News reported that he also said he had difficulty lifting his arm to drink water because he "just saluted 600 times."

  • CNN article
    Trump did not address the water glass episode on Twitter, defending instead the way he cautiously took to the ramp alongside West Point superintendent Lt. Gen. Darryl Williams.
  • CNN article
    I’ve got myself a problem, general, because I’m wearing leather bottom shoes, which is good if you’re walking on flat surfaces. It’s not good for ramps.
  • Fox News article
    "These people are sick, the fake news," Trump told a Tulsa, Okla., rally crowd
  • c-span.org video Watch

Sources: CNN reliable · Bloomberg reliable · Fox News needs a second source · CNN reliable

Nov 2019 Unscheduled Walter Reed visit (November 2019)

On a Saturday, Trump spent more than two hours at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center. ABC News reported that the visit "was not on the president's weekend public schedule," unlike his 2018 and 2019 physicals, which were announced in advance. The Washington Post said the circumstances "renewed questions about the status of his health and the White House's handling of his medical information," citing several medical experts. On Saturday, press secretary Stephanie Grisham said Trump was beginning "portions of his routine annual physical exam" and described a "quick exam and labs." Late Monday, physician Sean Conley's memo called it a "routine, planned interim checkup" and said there had been no chest pain and no urgent treatment. Nearly two years later, CNN reported that Grisham's 2021 book, "I'll Take Your Questions Now," described the visit as a "very common procedure" during which "a patient is put under." CNN said the book "does not use the term colonoscopy but heavily implies that's what the trip was for," and that Grisham wrote Trump did not want then-Vice President Mike Pence in power while he was sedated.

  • ABC News article
    Anticipating a very busy 2020, the President is taking advantage of a free weekend here in Washington, D.C., to begin portions of his routine annual physical exam at Walter Reed
  • bostonglobe.com article
    Despite some of the speculation, the President has not had any chest pain, nor was he evaluated or treated for any urgent or acute issues
  • The Washington Post article
    It is unusual for a president to do a physical exam in multiple stages months apart
  • CNN article
    In the book, Grisham does not use the term colonoscopy but heavily implies that’s what the trip was for.

Sources: ABC News reliable · bostonglobe.com needs a second source · The Washington Post reliable · CNN reliable

May 2018 Bornstein says Trump dictated the 2015 "healthiest" letter

Trump's campaign released a letter from Dr. Harold Bornstein in December 2015. It said Trump "will be the healthiest individual ever elected to the presidency." In September 2016, Bornstein told CNN the words were his own ("Did I really write that letter? Yeah"). On May 1, 2018, he told CNN, "He dictated that whole letter. I didn't write that letter." That changes the earlier account of where an official-seeming health statement came from, which is the "later disclosed / accounts changed" part of the thread. According to CBS/CNN and TIME, the White House did not comment on the letter claim.

  • cbsnews.com article
    "He dictated that whole letter. I didn't write that letter," Bornstein told CNN on Tuesday. "I just made it up as I went along."
  • Time article
    Neither the White House nor Trump have commented on Bornstein's latest allegations about the 2015 letter.
  • The Hill article
    Bornstein now says that Trump had dictated the language as the doctor and his wife drove across Central Park.
  • youtube.com video

Sources: cbsnews.com reliable · Time reliable · The Hill reliable

Jan 2018 Ronny Jackson's exam briefing

On January 16, 2018, White House physician Dr. Ronny Jackson said from the briefing room podium that "The President's overall health is excellent," following Trump's first presidential physical on January 12. Jackson released Trump's figures: 75 inches tall, 239 pounds, blood pressure 122/74. He recommended losing 10–15 pounds through diet and exercise. CNN reported that Trump's total cholesterol had risen from 169 in 2016 to 223. When reporters pressed him, Jackson said Trump "technically" has "nonclinical... coronary atherosclerosis," with a coronary calcium score of 133, up from 98 in 2013. He also said Trump "does not have heart disease." The coverage set the "excellent health" summary against the numbers released that day.

  • trumpwhitehouse.archives.gov statement
    In summary: The President's overall health is excellent. His cardiac performance during his physical exam was very good.
  • CNN article
    Trump weighs 239 pounds, Jackson said, three pounds more than he weighed in 2016.
  • NPR article
    It's called genetics," Jackson said. "Some people just have great genes. I told the president if he had a healthier diet over the last 20 years he might live to be 200.

Sources: trumpwhitehouse.archives.gov reliable · NPR reliable · CNN reliable · Time reliable

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