The White House has confirmed that President Donald Trump is experiencing swelling in his lower legs and bruising on his right hand, attributing the symptoms to a common vein condition and frequent handshaking.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, speaking at a briefing on Thursday, read from a letter issued by Trump’s physician, U.S. Navy officer Sean Barbabella. According to the letter, Trump has been diagnosed with chronic venous insufficiency, described as a benign and common condition among people over 70.
“An ultrasound on the president’s legs revealed chronic venous insufficiency,” Barbabella wrote. “There is no evidence of deep vein thrombosis or arterial disease.”
The letter followed days of speculation triggered by photographs showing the 79-year-old president with visibly swollen ankles and apparent makeup covering his right hand. The physician stated that Trump’s hand bruising was consistent with minor soft tissue irritation from frequent handshaking, compounded by the use of aspirin as part of his cardiovascular prevention regimen.
Leavitt emphasized that the president is not experiencing discomfort and remains active. “President Trump remains in excellent health,” Barbabella concluded in the statement.
Additional testing ruled out heart failure, kidney issues, and systemic illness. Trump had previously undergone a full physical examination in April at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, where he was reported to have a normal heart rhythm and no significant health concerns.
Medical experts who reviewed the condition noted it is generally manageable. Dr. Kwame Amankwah, chief of vascular surgery at the University of Connecticut, explained that chronic venous insufficiency occurs when veins struggle to return blood from the legs to the heart, often treated with compression stockings and leg elevation.
“If not managed, it can lead to severe swelling and ulcers,” Amankwah said.
Dr. Todd Berland of NYU Langone Health added that while the condition can affect daily comfort, “it has no overall effect on life expectancy. It’s a quality-of-life issue, not a quantity-of-life issue.”
