 "Attending the FIFA Club World Cup at New Jersey’s MetLife Stadium on July 13, 2025, Trump was photographed with noticeably swollen ankles and what seemed to be bruises on his hand. AFP")
Images of US President Donald Trump at a recent public appearance have stirred fresh chatter online, not about politics this time, but about his health.
Attending the FIFA Club World Cup at New Jersey’s MetLife Stadium on July 13, 2025, Trump was photographed with noticeably swollen ankles and what seemed to be bruises on his hand.
Neither Trump nor his team has issued any clarification, but the photos have triggered speculation on social media about the 79-year-old’s president’s health.
What makes this even more noticeable is that just a few months ago, in April, Trump’s official health report described him as “fully fit,” with no concerns mentioned about his mobility or extremities.
So, are these recent signs something to worry about? Here’s what we know
Why are Donald Trump’s ankles swollen?
As social media speculations about Trump’s health gained traction, a physician expressed concerns that the US President could be dealing with a serious health issue.
Speaking to ReachPlc, Dr Jeff Foster, Medical Director of Manual, shared what might be behind the visible swelling. “Ankle swelling can be due to a range of factors: anything from standing up for too long in the hot weather, to heart or liver problems,” he said.
Foster also pointed to a more concerning possibility. “The big one we worry about is heart failure, which is a condition where the heart cannot pump the blood around the body fast enough, which results in fluid pooling in the feet and ankles.”
While swelling during summer isn’t unusual, Foster noted it’s not typically a sign seen in someone who’s in good health. “While we all get a tight rim round our socks in the heat, we don’t usually see any significant ankle swelling in anyone who is fit and well and this would beg the question as to whether there is something more significant health-wise going on,” he explained.
Offering a similar warning, Dr Mahesh Agarwal, an interventional cardiologist at Manipal Hospital in Bhubaneshwar, told Times Now, “The body often sends out early distress signals, and ignoring them could delay crucial diagnoses. Symptoms like swollen ankles, unexplained bruises, or a persistent limp may appear minor, but they could be the body’s way of signalling something more serious beneath the surface.”
The conversation around Trump’s health picked up after he and First Lady Melania were seen attending the FIFA Club World Cup finals at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. Photos from the event, especially those showing the President from a front angle, revealed his visibly swollen ankles and drew immediate attention online.
“Swollen ankles at the World Cup. Bruised hand at today’s press availability. Is the Trump administration hiding the President’s health?” one user posted on X. Another commented on his posture, saying, “He walks slumped over and sits in a way that looks like he is compensating for some breathing difficulty.”
Did excessive handshaking cause bruising on Trump’s hand?
A recurring bruise on the back of President Trump’s right hand has also raised concerns, especially after it was spotted again during a recent public appearance.
Trump was photographed boarding Marine One at the White House en route to Pittsburgh, where he appeared to be wearing a noticeable amount of concealer on the back of his hand.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told The Daily Beast that the mark was caused by the president’s habitual handshaking. “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,” she said, offering a similar explanation just a month earlier.
However, not all medical professionals are convinced by that reasoning.
Dr Neal H Patel, a physician at Providence St Joseph Hospital, told the Daily Mail earlier this year that it’s unlikely handshaking alone could lead to such bruising. “I see a lot of patients who are businessmen, and I’ve never really seen them getting bruising from too much handshaking,” he said. “I guess it’s possible, but that would really not be on my list of ideas of what causes it.”
Instead, Dr Patel speculated that the bruise could be from an IV needle. Other experts have pointed out that Trump’s age may play a role, especially if he is also dealing with conditions like osteoporosis.
Dr Mahesh Agarwal also added a word of caution, telling Times Now that bruises without an obvious cause should not be ignored.
“They may indicate issues with blood clotting or platelet disorders or even be a side effect of certain medications like blood thinners or steroids,” he said. “In rare cases, frequent bruising could be linked to liver disease, leukaemia, or vitamin deficiencies (especially C and K).”
With input from agencies