President Donald Trump’s planned visit to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center today, Tuesday, May 26, is raising further concerns about his health.
Speculation surrounding Trump’s physical and mental well-being — not to mention his ability to fulfill the duties of the highest office in the country — has been widespread lately. The POTUS is, after all, fast approaching 80 years old, and a series of large bruises on the back of his hand, along with an alleged new habit of falling asleep during meetings, has given his critics plenty of fuel.
Add to that Trump’s many erratic social media posts and controversial decisions, and his critics believe they have enough reason to suggest he is no longer suited for the immense responsibilities of the presidency.
As a result, when the White House recently announced that he would undergo a third health checkup in 13 months, people paid close attention.
No further details were provided regarding exactly what would be examined during Trump’s medical and dental visit. Sitting US presidents reportedly usually undergo one physical exam per year, making Trump’s three visits in just over that amount of time even more unusual.
Trump underwent a routine physical in April 2025 and was later called back for a “scheduled follow-up” in October of the same year. The president told reporters that he had undergone an MRI during the second visit, though he later corrected himself in an interview with the Wall Street Journal, saying he had instead received a CT scan of his heart and abdomen.
“In retrospect, it’s too bad I took it because it gave them a little ammunition,” Trump said at the time. “I would have been a lot better off if they didn’t, because the fact that I took it said, ‘Oh gee, is something wrong?’ Well, nothing’s wrong.”
As mentioned above, Trump’s health has become the subject of widespread conjecture and speculation following several visible and concerning signs. Perhaps the most noticeable are the large bruises the president has displayed on the backs of his hands, often covered with heavy amounts of makeup.
Trump’s own physician, Dr. Sean Barbabella, commented on the bruising, attributing it to “minor soft tissue irritation from frequent handshaking and the use of aspirin.”
Trump, meanwhile, has said the bruises are the result of him taking more aspirin than doctors would typically recommend.
“They say aspirin is good for thinning out the blood, and I don’t want thick blood pouring through my heart,” Trump said. “I want nice, thin blood pouring through my heart. Does that make sense?”
The 79-year-old also recently remarked that he feels the same now as he did in his 30s.
“I feel literally the same,” he said. “I don’t know why. It’s not because I eat the best foods.”
