 "Social media was quick to notice that Trump’s face looked unusual during the 9/11 memorial ceremony, with many speculating he may have suffered a mini-stroke. AFP")
Donald Trump has once again become the subject of health speculation after his latest public appearance. At a Pentagon ceremony marking the 24th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks, the 79-year-old US President appeared with a droop on one side of his mouth, fuelling rumours of a possible stroke.
The moment added to earlier concerns over his bruised hands and swollen ankles, which the White House has previously dismissed as minor issues linked to vein problems, handshakes, and aspirin use.
Still, many are asking the same question: is this just part of ageing, or a sign of something more serious?
Here’s what we know
‘What’s wrong with Trump’s face?’
Social media was quick to notice that Trump ’s face looked unusual during the 9/11 memorial ceremony, with many speculating he may have suffered a mini-stroke.
Medical experts note that facial drooping can indeed be a warning sign. The American Stroke Association explains, “During a stroke, blood flow to different parts of the brain can stop. If blood flow to the left side of the brain is compromised, the right side of the person’s face could droop or twist,” and vice versa.
Soon after the footage surfaced, theories flooded in.
One user wrote: “I know we’re all busy with the other thing. But did Trump have a stroke? Cuz that looks a LOT like stroke-related facial droop to me. (This is from this morning’s 9/11 memorial).”
Ben Meiselas, host of the MeidasTouch podcast, also weighed in, “Trump looked absolutely awful during his attendance at a 9/11 ceremony at the Pentagon. His face was very droopy, he seemed addled, like he didn’t even know where he was.”
Another commenter echoed the same concern: “Trump at the 9/11 Pentagon memorial ceremony. What is wrong with his face? Definitely has pronounced drooping on the right side of face & mouth, typical of medical condition.”
White House is yet to comment on the matter.
Some online sleuths pushed the theories even further, claiming that a video Trump shared after conservative activist Charlie Kirk was fatally shot at Utah Valley University had been digitally altered, possibly with AI.
The speculation comes on the back of Trump’s unexplained four-day absence from the public eye last month, which sparked wild rumours about his health, and even trended under the hashtag “Trump is dead.”
At 79, Trump would be the oldest serving US president if he completes his second term, ending in 2029.
Bruised hands, swollen ankles
Trump has repeatedly brushed off questions about his health, even once declaring himself “the healthiest president that’s ever lived.” But recent appearances have kept fuelling speculation.
Last month, during his meeting with South Korean President Lee Jae Myung at the Oval Office, cameras caught what looked like a deep bruise on Trump’s right hand. Observers noted how he kept his left hand resting over it while speaking to reporters, almost as if to cover it up.
Just days earlier, photos had already shown the same hand appearing to be concealed with makeup.
The White House, however, explained the mark. Press secretary Karoline Leavitt put it down to nothing more than Trump’s famously firm handshakes combined with his daily aspirin regimen.
“President Trump is a man of the people and he meets more Americans and shakes their hands on a daily basis than any other President in history. His commitment is unwavering and he proves that every single day,” Leavitt said.
His physician, Dr Sean Barbabella, echoed the same reasoning in an official letter, noting the bruise was “consistent with minor soft tissue irritation from frequent handshaking and the use of aspirin, which is taken as part of a standard cardiovascular prevention regimen.”
This isn’t the first time Trump’s health has drawn attention. Earlier this year, photographs showed him with visibly swollen ankles. Dr Barbabella later confirmed that Trump had been diagnosed with chronic venous insufficiency, a common condition in older adults where blood struggles to flow back up the legs.
He reassured supporters there was nothing serious to worry about, stressing there was “no evidence of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) or arterial disease.”
The rising concerns about Trump’s health come at a moment of heightened sensitivity for Americans following the alleged cover-up of former President Joe Biden’s health decline. The 81-year-old was forced to exit the 2024 race after his disastrous debate performance in July, which many attributed to age-related struggles.
With input from agencies