Just one week before he marks his 80th birthday, sitting U.S. President Donald Trump underwent his scheduled annual physical examination on Tuesday at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, a facility located just outside Washington, D.C. in Bethesda, Maryland. The visit comes amid growing public discussion and unaddressed questions about the Republican incumbent’s overall health, a topic Trump himself has weaponized against his Democratic predecessor Joe Biden in recent political discourse.
As the oldest person ever inaugurated to the U.S. presidency, Trump has repeatedly made public claims about his exceptional mental and physical fitness, often contrasting his perceived vitality with Biden’s public appearances. Tuesday’s check-up, which included both medical and dental screenings, follows recent observations of the president that have fueled new speculation: multiple witnesses have noted apparent sleepiness during high-stakes policy meetings, and persistent bruising on his right hand that is regularly concealed with makeup.
According to an AFP reporter embedded with the presidential motorcade, Trump arrived at the medical facility at approximately 8:50 a.m. local time (12:50 GMT). Per the White House’s publicly released daily schedule, the president is set to convene a critical policy meeting at the White House by 1:30 p.m. local time (17:30 GMT), with ongoing tensions over the Iran conflict topping the meeting’s agenda.
By longstanding convention, the White House typically releases a public summary of presidential physical examinations within hours or days of the appointment, but the level of detail shared is entirely at the administration’s discretion. Transparency around Trump’s health has long been a point of public criticism, dating back to his first term in office. Last year alone, the president underwent two separate medical visits: a routine scheduled check-up in April, and an unannounced trip to Walter Reed in October that sparked widespread unconfirmed speculation about unreported health issues.
Last summer, White House officials confirmed that Trump had been evaluated for persistent leg swelling and received a diagnosis of chronic venous insufficiency, a common circulatory condition where damaged vein valves cause blood to pool in the lower extremities, leading to swelling, cramping, and skin discoloration. The confirmation came after multiple public appearances showed Trump with visibly swollen ankles. For the bruising on his right hand, the White House has explained that the marks are a side effect of daily aspirin use, part of what the administration calls a standard cardiovascular prevention regimen.
Following his unscheduled October 2024 check-up, Trump told reporters that an MRI conducted during the visit showed his cardiovascular health was “excellent.” His attending physician, U.S. Navy Captain Sean Barbabella, released a public letter at the time stating that Trump’s cardiac age was “approximately 14 years younger than his chronological age.”
Trump’s 80th birthday on June 14 will coincide with a high-profile public event at the White House: a Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) cage match hosted on the South Lawn, which is expected to draw thousands of spectators from across the country.