President Donald Trump has been diagnosed with chronic venous insufficiency (CVI) after photos went viral showing swelling in his lower legs.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters at a briefing Thursday that the condition is benign and common.
It particularly affects people over the age of 70. Trump turned 79 on June 14.
Highlights
- President Trump was diagnosed with chronic venous insufficiency (CVI) after viral photos showed swelling in his lower legs.
- The White House states CVI is a common, benign condition affecting mostly people over 70; Trump turned 79 on June 14.
- Comprehensive tests ruled out heart failure, renal impairment, or systemic illness; no signs of deep vein thrombosis were found.
- Minor bruising on Trump’s hand was attributed to aspirin use and frequent handshaking and was described as a benign side effect.
Photos showing Donald Trump’s swelling ankles went viral
Image credits: The White House
“I know that many in the media have been speculating about bruising on the president's hand and also swelling in the president's legs,” Leavitt said.
“In the effort of transparency, the president wanted me to share a note from his physician with you today.”
Leavitt read out the note from presidential physician Sean Barbabella.
“In recent weeks, President Trump noted mild swelling in his lower legs,” it said.
“In keeping with routine medical care and out of an abundance of caution, this concern was thoroughly evaluated by the White House Medical Unit.”
The president underwent a comprehensive examination, which included an echocardiogram, several diagnostic tests, and vascular studies.
He was diagnosed with CVI, and all of his other medical results came back as normal.
There were also no signs of heart failure, renal impairment, or systemic illness.
Photographs of the president attending the FIFA World Cup Final between Chelsea and Paris Saint-Germain on Sunday, July 13, went viral as his ankles appeared to be extremely swollen.
Recent photographs speculating on bruising on Trump’s hand were also addressed.
Image credits: X
At a press event on July 15, Trump showed up with makeup covering what appeared to be a raised bump on the back of his hand.
There was significant speculation in the media and comments by medical professionals about what could have caused the bruising.
“Additionally, recent photographs of the president have shown minor bruising on the back of his hand,” Leavitt said.
“This is consistent with minor soft tissue irritation from frequent hand shaking and the use of aspirin, which is taken as part of a standard cardiovascular prevention regimen.
“This is a well-known and benign side effect of aspirin therapy.”
She added: “The president remains in excellent health, which I think all of you witness on a daily basis here.”
‘Importantly, there was no evidence of deep vein thrombosis or arterial disease,’ the doctor’s note said
Image credits: The White House
The Cleveland Clinic says CVI occurs when a person’s legs don’t work properly, meaning veins can’t manage blood flow correctly, and it is harder for the blood in the legs to return to the heart.
“CVI causes blood to pool in your leg veins, leading to high pressure in those veins,” the website notes.
Treatment for the condition involves lifestyle changes such as getting more exercise, weight management, and leg elevation, as well as compression therapy.
Dr. Bernard Ashby, a cardiologist, told CNN that CVI can be related to conditions such as apnea or increased heart pressure.
“Even though he’s diagnosed with a benign condition, venous insufficiency, by itself doesn’t necessarily mean it’s benign,” he said.
“The question is, what’s causing the venous insufficiency? And so I would want to know whether or not he has any evidence of, again, increased pressures in the heart or increased pressures in the lungs, which can be contributing to that, and if so, what is the primary cause of that?”