CNN paused its regular programming for breaking news about President Donald Trump as concerns over his health intensified following revelations in a new book. The president, who turned 80 earlier this month, has been photographed with bruised hands and swollen ankles in recent months, prompting questions about his physical fitness for office.
CNN's Live Discussion on Trump's Health
CNN anchor John Berman interrupted his live coverage to speak with New York Times White House journalists Maggie Haberman and Jonathan Swan about their new book, Regime Change: Inside the Imperial Presidency of Donald Trump. Berman expressed surprise, saying, “I didn't know the president was having a hard time hearing or that his hearing was fading?” Haberman replied, “Aides are aware that [Trump] is older. What exactly goes on with Donald Trump's health is one of the mysteries of the last 10 years.”
Haberman claimed the White House is adept at keeping Trump's health issues private. “But he is moving differently. He has the swelling in the ankles which he was so irritated by the coverage. He's very sensitive about his appearance,” she said. According to the book, Trump was upset about press coverage of his “cankles” and demanded that press secretary Karoline Leavitt address it during a media briefing.
Details from the Book on Trump's Health
The book also sheds new light on his bulging ankles, which his doctors have attributed to chronic venous insufficiency. Haberman noted, “His hearing is an issue. They have all been aware of it. The fact that he is older, it's harder to mask it.” These revelations add to a growing list of public symptoms the president has displayed since returning to office.
Trump's health has come under increasing scrutiny during his second term, with critics questioning both his physical and mental fitness. The White House has pushed back against these concerns. Spokesperson Davis Ingle told the Daily Beast in a statement, “President Trump’s sharpness, unmatched energy, and historic accessibility stand in stark contrast to what we saw during the last administration when Democrats and the legacy media intentionally covered up Joe Biden’s serious mental and physical decline from the American people. President Trump is the sharpest and most accessible President in American history who is working nonstop to solve problems and deliver on his promises.”
Recent Incidents Fueling Health Concerns
The health fears come amid a series of public incidents. On June 18, Trump got into a heated clash with a journalist, firing back live on air, “I know what's going on a hell of a lot better than you do.” This tense moment occurred a day after his speech at the G7 summit in France, which was branded “strange” and “rambling in parts” by observers.
These events have amplified calls for greater transparency regarding the president's health, though the White House continues to assert his fitness for office. The new book by Haberman and Swan provides an insider account of the administration's efforts to manage Trump's public image amid these concerns.
