WASHINGTON — President Donald J. Trump has been experiencing mild swelling in his lower legs in recent weeks, but White House medical staff say the condition is benign and not cause for concern, according to a memo released Thursday by the president’s physician.
The memo, authored by Dr. Sean P. Barbabella, Physician to the President and a U.S. Navy captain, states that President Trump underwent a full medical evaluation following his complaints of swelling. Diagnostic tests—including venous Doppler ultrasounds on both legs—revealed that the president has chronic venous insufficiency, a common and generally harmless condition, particularly in people over 70.
“There was no evidence of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) or arterial disease,” Dr. Barbabella wrote, adding that a full battery of lab tests and a cardiac echocardiogram showed no signs of systemic illness, heart failure, or kidney problems.
The update comes amid public speculation about the president’s recent physical appearance, particularly after photos showed visible bruising on the back of his hand.
Dr. Barbabella addressed those concerns as well, attributing the bruising to “minor soft tissue irritation from frequent handshaking and the use of aspirin,” which the president takes as a preventive measure for cardiovascular health. He noted that bruising is a “well-known and benign side effect” of aspirin therapy.
The memo did not indicate any changes to the president’s medication or activity level and concluded that the findings were consistent with routine age-related health concerns.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt did not comment beyond confirming the memo’s authenticity, referring additional questions to the White House Medical Unit.
