Washington, D.C. – President Donald Trump, long dubbed America’s “conspiracy-theorist-in-chief” for spreading unfounded claims about the mental and physical health of political opponents, is now drowning in similar speculation about his own condition, which he dismissed as “fake news.”
Blaming the media for rumors that originated on social media, Trump overlooked the irony of his own history of health-based attacks on figures like Jeb Bush, Ben Carson, Ted Cruz, Hillary Clinton, Joe Biden, and Kamala Harris.
The scrutiny, driven by viral photos of swollen ankles, bruised hands and questions about past medical secrecy, highlights Trump’s refusal to release detailed health records, breaking with presidential tradition and fueling debate as economic challenges like rising costs overshadow his second term.
Trump’s Pattern of Health Attacks on Opponents
Since entering politics in June 2015, Trump has consistently targeted rivals’ health to question their fitness for office. In the 2016 Republican primaries, he labeled former Florida Governor Jeb Bush “low energy,” implying a lack of stamina despite Bush’s history as a collegiate tennis player and reputation for long workdays in Tallahassee.
As Ben Carson rose in polls, Trump falsely claimed in November 2015 that the neurosurgeon had a “pathological temper,” alleging Carson “went after his mother with a hammer,” “stabbed somebody,” and “smashed somebody’s face with a lock, with a padlock and other things.”
Trump then turned to Sen. Ted Cruz, calling him “a totally unstable individual” and “the single biggest liar I’ve ever come across,” adding the next day, “He’s got a mental problem.” In the general election, Trump pushed baseless conspiracy theories about Hillary Clinton’s health, suggesting in September 2016 that her pneumonia diagnosis masked a graver condition, noting, “She was coughing very, very badly a week ago … It’s very interesting to see what’s going on.”
In 2020, well before Joe Biden’s visible physical decline, Trump, who often struggles to complete coherent thoughts without veering into falsehoods or tangents claimed, “Joe is shot. He’s mentally shot,” asserting in September that Biden was “not mentally equipped to be president.”
In 2024, Trump continued attacking Biden’s mental acuity, stating, “Biden doesn’t know he’s alive,” before shifting to Vice President Kamala Harris after she became the Democratic nominee. On social media, he falsely claimed, “I have just seen Kamala’s Report, and it is not good. According to her Doctor’s Report, she suffers from ‘urticaria,’ defined as ‘a rash of round, red welts on the skin that itch intensely, sometimes with dangerous swelling.’ She also has ‘allergic rhinitis and allergic conjunctivitis,’ a very messy and dangerous situation. These are deeply serious conditions that clearly impact her functioning.”
Trump’s Secrecy Surrounding His Own Health
While attacking opponents, Trump has maintained a veil of secrecy over his own health, ending the decades-long practice of presidential candidates releasing comprehensive medical reports.
In 2016, his New York physician, Dr. Harold Bornstein, issued a letter claiming, “If elected, Mr. Trump, I can state unequivocally, will be the healthiest individual ever elected to the presidency.” Weeks after Trump’s 2017 inauguration, White House staff confiscated his medical records from Bornstein’s office, an action the doctor called a “raid.”
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In January 2018, White House physician Dr. Ronny Jackson, later a Trump-aligned congressman, praised Trump’s “great genes,” suggesting, “If he had a healthier diet over the last 20 years he might live to be 200.” Jackson’s report listed Trump’s weight at 239 pounds, a figure disputed by observers, with one top aide anonymously estimating “north of 300.” The report also claimed Trump was 6-foot-3, an inch taller than his pre-campaign height of 6-foot-2.
A secretive November 2019 visit to Walter Reed Medical Center, later revealed in a 2021 book by Trump’s press secretary as a routine colonoscopy, sparked speculation due to the White House’s refusal to explain. During his 2024 campaign, Trump withheld medical records, and after surviving a July 2024 assassination attempt where he was shot in the ear, his campaign provided vague statements and barred treating doctors from speaking to the media.
In April 2025, White House physician Dr. Sean Barbabella reported Trump’s weight at 224 pounds, describing an “active lifestyle” involving “multiple meetings, public appearances, press availability, and frequent victories in golf events” at his own courses, implying wins enhanced his exercise.
The report omitted a later-disclosed “chronic venous insufficiency,” a common condition in those over 70, revealed only after July 2025 social media posts highlighted photos of Trump’s swollen ankles and calves. Barbabella attributed right-hand bruises to “frequent handshaking” and aspirin use, concluding, “President Trump remains in excellent health,” without explaining why the circulatory issue was missed earlier.
Social Media Rumors and Trump’s Deflection
Recent speculation about Trump’s health, driven by X posts and viral images, prompted his August 25 dismissal: “Well, it’s fake news. You know, it’s just so ― it’s so fake, that’s why the media has so little credibility.” He blamed news organizations, despite the rumors originating on social media, not traditional outlets.
Critics see poetic justice. Rick Wilson, a Florida Republican strategist who left the party over Trump in 2016, remarked, “It’s the apotheosis of karma for the man who pretended Hillary was on death’s door. Mr. ‘Low Stamina’ is now the butt of his own joke.” Josh Schwerin, a 2016 Clinton campaign aide, argued the health focus distracts from economic woes, stating, “All Americans know for a fact that the cost of things like groceries, electricity and child care continue to skyrocket. Trump has yet to find a cure for that potent problem.”
On X, reactions split along partisan lines. Supporters like @Maga4Trump call the rumors “Democrat lies,” while critics like @BlueWave2026 amplify images, questioning Trump’s fitness. A YouGov poll shows 55% of voters, including 30% of Republicans, want Trump to release full medical records.
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Why It Matters
The health speculation coincides with scrutiny over unfulfilled 2024 campaign promises, including releasing Jeffrey Epstein files and addressing inflation. The focus on Trump’s condition risks overshadowing his agenda as the 2026 midterms near, where Republicans aim to retain congressional control. His history of health-based attacks, now mirrored by public curiosity, shows a perceived hypocrisy, amplified by his administration’s lack of transparency.
The controversy also ties to broader distrust, with X posts and hashtags like #TrumpHealth trending alongside Epstein-related debates. As Trump struggles with legal battles, including a $10 billion defamation suit against The Wall Street Journal, and faces pressure to release Epstein files, the health rumors add another layer to his presidency.
What Next?
The health speculation is unlikely to fade without transparent medical disclosures, a standard, Trump himself set through years of attacking rivals. As congressional probes and public demands for clarity intensify, the issue could shape voter perceptions in 2026.
For now, Trump’s dismissal of “fake news” and refusal to engage reflect a familiar strategy, but one that struggles to quell the irony of his own tactics turned against him.
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