4 Times In 2025 Trump Had People Worried About His Health
When you're a public figure, people will talk about your health. That's why it's no surprise that social media lights up when President Donald Trump appears to have a medical problem. And in 2025, the Internet went buzzy about Trump's health on multiple occasions — starting with the state of his hands.
In February and March, casual observers and media professionals began to talk about Trump's bruised hand. Upon occasion, Trump appeared to attempt a cover-up job on the bruises using concealer or foundation. But the results were often glaringly obvious in pictures and videos, raising eyebrows and questions. In an official White House statement, press secretary Karoline Leavitt attributed the bruises to Trump "constantly working and shaking hands all day every day" (via Fox News).
Other possible explanations for Trump's bruised hands have been floated, including that it's just a part of the aging process. A condition called actinic purpura (or Bateman's purpura) leaves bruises on the skin. Common in people with older, thinning, or sun-damaged skin, it's not dangerous but may be unsightly unless covered by makeup.
The bruising could also be a reaction to medications. The White House report on Trump's health from April noted that he takes aspirin and uses topical mometasone cream. Both can cause skin to bruise easily.
That time he walked with a different gait
In March, a video of Trump apparently dragging his right leg during a round of golf went viral on X (via Business Standard). Experts have suggested that Trump's "limping" gait could be explained by certain health conditions, ranging from knock knees to a neuromuscular disorder like Parkinson's disease. Yet, Trump's April 2025 medical report doesn't indicate that the 79-year-old might have any of those conditions.
That said, Trump has been diagnosed with chronic venous insufficiency, which might explain why the president appears to be struggling to use his right leg at times. Patients with chronic venous insufficiency have leg veins that don't efficiently move blood to the heart. While the condition was described in a White House memo as "benign and common," restricted blood flow in the legs may cause swelling in the lower legs, affecting one's ability to walk normally. Unsurprisingly, photos of Trump with swollen ankles at public events surfaced throughout 2025.
Occasions when his voice sounded unusually strained
Trump has a reputation for speaking loudly and confidently, which is why people tend to notice whenever he seems to have trouble getting enough air or enunciating while speaking. For example, a September 2025 media event held jointly by Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu left many listeners puzzled. His breathing was also described by some social media users as "panting" and "sedated."
This wasn't the first time Trump's voice seemed to take on a muddled tone. In 2024, Trump sounded garbled during a livestreamed discussion with Elon Musk. As Newsweek reported, many people thought perhaps he wore dentures and they became loose. But Trump responded by releasing a higher-quality recording of the talk to prove he wasn't slurring his words.
Trump's publicly available health records don't mention dentures, nor do they bring up the hint of any chronic or acute speech or respiratory problems. That said, with a BMI of 28, Trump is considered overweight; difficulty catching one's breath can be a symptom of this.
That time his cholesterol medication came to light
Millions of people around the world take cholesterol-lowering medication, including Trump. In April, his physician described Trump's cholesterol as "well-controlled" and listed the two medications that kept it that way: rosuvastatin and ezetimibe.
The first, rosuvastatin, is meant to bring down low-density lipoprotein (LDL) or "bad" cholesterol levels. It's also good at lowering triglycerides. The second, ezetimibe, also brings down LDL cholesterol. When cholesterol isn't managed, it can contribute to cardiovascular disease, which is said to be the number one cause of death in the United States.
There's a catch, though: Both medications are typically prescribed along with diet changes to keep cholesterol controlled. But Trump's daily diet isn't exactly what you'd call "healthy." For instance, his love for ultra-processed fast food has been documented for years. Therefore, even though his cholesterol numbers are within normal ranges, his dietary preferences could put him at risk of type 2 diabetes, depression, and cancer.