WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump, now 79 and eyeing a potential run at becoming the oldest U.S. leader to seek a third term, received a glowing bill of health from his physician following a routine checkup at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center on October 10, 2025.
The report, released the same day, paints a picture of vigorous vitality but notably omits persistent public concerns like the president’s bruised hands and swollen ankles—issues that have sparked months of speculation about underlying conditions ranging from circulatory problems to cognitive decline.
Dr. Sean Barbabella, Trump’s White House physician, submitted the findings to Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, describing the visit as a “preventive health assessment” with a follow-up scheduled at the president’s discretion.
“President Donald J. Trump remains in exceptional health, exhibiting strong cardiovascular, pulmonary, neurological, and physical performance,” the report states. It highlights Trump’s “cardiac age” as 14 years younger than his chronological 79, crediting factors like diet, exercise, and genetics.
The exam included an annual flu shot and a COVID-19 booster—ironic given HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s recent moves to pull the vaccine from routine recommendations for healthy kids and pregnant women.
Trump himself teased the appointment on Truth Social days earlier, stating, “I am pleased to report that my long-scheduled Annual Physical Examination will be done at Walter Reed Army Medical Center on Friday of this week. I have never felt better, but nevertheless, these things must be done!”
The timing raised eyebrows, coming just six months after his last reported checkup in April 2025, amid a flurry of visible health quirks that have fueled online chatter.
The Omissions: Bruises, ‘Cankles,’ and Circulatory Concerns
What the report doesn’t mention has dominated headlines. For months, Trump has appeared with deep purple bruises on his hands—often concealed under heavy makeup—and noticeably swollen ankles, dubbed “cankles” by critics.
These symptoms intensified public speculation, with vascular experts attributing them to chronic venous insufficiency (CVI), a common circulatory issue in older adults where blood pools in the legs due to weakened valves.
In August 2025, the White House confirmed the CVI diagnosis, with former physician Rep. Ronny Jackson explaining it as a follow-up from a vascular study, stating, “They were doing some follow-up on his venous issue. He had been diagnosed with chronic venous insufficiency, so there is a vascular study that was done.”
Barbabella’s notes from prior exams acknowledged high cholesterol and diverticulosis, plus a colonoscopy last year, but the new report glosses over CVI or any treatments.
Critics, including psychologists, have pointed to these physical signs—coupled with Trump’s increasingly tangential speech—as potential red flags for cognitive issues like dementia.
A September 2025 analysis in The Daily Beast quoted experts, saying, “This is what demonstrates Donald Trump’s dementia,” referencing erratic patterns in rallies and interviews.
The omissions aren’t new. Trump’s 2018 physical under Dr. Ronny Jackson famously called him “in excellent health,” despite later revelations of weight issues and cognitive test controversies. In 2023, under Dr. Kevin O’Connor, a letter praised his “robust cardiac and neurological health” but skipped details on sleep apnea or obesity.
This latest report follows suit, focusing on positives while dodging the visuals that have gone viral—from rally close-ups of bruised knuckles to photos of swollen feet.
Echoes of Past Reports: A Pattern of Selective Disclosure
Trump’s health transparency has long been a lightning rod. His first-term exams under Jackson were effusive, with the 2018 report dubbing him “the healthiest individual ever elected to the presidency.”
Jackson later admitted to altering cholesterol meds and downplaying facts. O’Connor’s 2023 letter, amid 2024 campaign whispers, emphasized “no cognitive issues” after a Montreal Cognitive Assessment score of 30/30—though critics noted the test’s simplicity.
The COVID booster in this report adds irony. RFK Jr., Trump’s HHS pick, called the vaccine “the deadliest ever made” in 2021 and pulled it from CDC schedules for healthy groups in September 2025, joking about Trump’s “anxiety” over a Pfizer deal. “Anyone who wants a booster can get it,” RFK said, defending the change.
Trump’s shot, per the report, aligns with his 2021 vaccination—kept private amid anti-vax base tensions.
Broader Implications: Age, Legacy, and the 2028 Question
At 79, Trump would shatter records if seeking a third term in 2028, surpassing Joe Biden’s 81 at inauguration. Polls show 55% of Republicans support it, per a September 2025 Quinnipiac survey, but 62% of all voters worry about his age.
The report’s “exceptional” tag reassures supporters, but omissions fuel doubts—especially after Biden’s 2024 withdrawal over age concerns.
Experts like Dr. S. Jay Olshansky, a longevity specialist, told The New York Times in August 2025 that Trump’s “robust” claims ignore actuarial risks: Men his age face 20% annual mortality odds.
A Time magazine piece on October 8 questioned the checkup’s timing: “Trump’s Walter Reed Routine Yearly Check-Up Raises Second Health Concerns.”
As midterms approach, the report’s release—amid shutdown chaos and Epstein file fights—feels like a bid to steady nerves.
For Trump, health isn’t just personal; it’s political. With bruises fading and ankles swelling in the spotlight, this “exceptional” verdict might buy time, but the full picture remains as opaque as ever.
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