President Donald Trump arrived at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center on Tuesday morning for his annual physical examination. The check-up comes just weeks before Trump turns 80, and as mysterious bruises continue to raise health concerns about the man who will set the record for the oldest U.S. president before he finishes his second term.
Bruises and Health Speculation
At Monday's Memorial Day service at Arlington National Cemetery, Trump's right hand was covered with thick makeup. The White House has said the bruising is caused by Trump's constant handshaking and his daily aspirin regimen.
Tuesday's trip to Walter Reed marks the third time in 13 months that he has visited the medical facility. The first physical of his second term took place in April 2025, and he returned in October for a scheduled follow-up.
Previous Health Issues
In July, Trump was diagnosed with chronic venous insufficiency, an explanation for why his ankles had suddenly started to look swollen. Trump boasted to reporters that he had a 'perfect MRI' after his October trip to Walter Reed, prompting his doctor to clarify that he had a CT scan to rule out cardiovascular issues.
Trump's comments prompted suspicion that the president was hiding a more serious medical condition. But White House Physician Dr. Sean Barbabella said that the test was to rule out any cardiovascular or abdominal health issues, adding that the president remained in 'excellent overall health.'
Claims of Robust Health
Those in Trumpworld have pushed that the near-octogenarian is healthier than others his age. 'Dr. Oz looked at his medical records and said he's got the highest testosterone level that he's ever seen for an individual over 70 years old,' Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. recently boasted on an episode of the Katie Miller podcast.
Trump has also pushed back on suggestions that he has fallen asleep during meetings, saying he is just resting his eyes.
Transparency Concerns
Presidents do not legally have to release information about their health. That means the health assessments that are released often paint a rosier picture than what is actually going on. For instance, when Trump got sick with COVID-19 in 2020, weeks before the presidential election, his White House Physician, Dr. Sean Conley, gave upbeat briefings to the press on the president's prognosis. At the same time, Trump's Chief of Staff Mark Meadows told reporters on background that the president's condition was much more serious than Conley let on.
Former President Joe Biden announced a Stage 4 testicular diagnosis four months after leaving office, prompting questions about whether he was hiding serious health issues while serving as president. Trump also hinted that he believed Biden was hiding something. 'I think it is very sad actually. I am surprised that the public wasn't notified a long time ago,' the president said.
Biden's cancer diagnosis was announced days before the release of a book by CNN's Jake Tapper and Axios's Alex Thompson, whose entire premise was that there was a Biden health cover-up.
