President Donald Trump sought to dispel swirling social media rumors about his health on Tuesday, stating he was ‘very active’ over the Labor Day weekend. The speculation, which began on Friday night and extended into Saturday morning, was fueled by an empty public schedule and recycled photos showing bruising on his hand. Trump, speaking to reporters in the Oval Office, described the speculation about his health as ‘fake news.’
‘I didn’t do anything for two days, and they said, ‘There must be something wrong with him,”’ Trump told reporters, drawing a sharp comparison to his predecessor, President Joe Biden. ‘You wouldn’t see him (Biden) and nobody ever said there was ever anything wrong with him,’ he said, adding, ‘And we know he wasn’t in the greatest of shape.’
The online chatter subsided after Trump was seen leaving the White House with his grandchildren for his golf club in Virginia Saturday. He was seen wearing a white polo shirt and red MAGA hat. The White House had previously released a health update, stating that Trump was experiencing bruising on his hands, which was attributed to ‘frequent handshaking and the use of aspirin,’ and mild swelling in his legs, described as a ‘benign and common condition’ in individuals over 70. The report also confirmed there was no evidence of deep vein thrombosis or arterial disease, nor any signs of heart failure, renal impairment or systemic illness.
U.S. Navy Capt. Sean Barbabella, Trump’s physician, had said in April that he found the president to be in ‘excellent health.’ The released medical report also included Trump’s vital statistics, such as his height, weight of 224 pounds, resting heart rate of 62 beats per minute, blood pressure of 128/74 mmHg, pulse oximetry of 99% on room air, and a temperature of 98.6 degrees Fahrenheit.
In July, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt had confirmed that Trump was experiencing bruising on his hands and mild leg swelling, attributed to aging and frequent activities. These reports have been met with skepticism, as some critics have questioned the validity of the claims, highlighting the role of social media in shaping public perception of political figures in modern times.