Trump, Turning 80 Next Month, Faces Renewed Health Speculation Ahead of Checkup

Concerns Raised Over Leg Swelling and Bruising on Hand
External Experts Say "Additional Cognitive Testing May Be Needed"

U.S. President Donald Trump, who is scheduled for a routine medical checkup, has once again become the subject of speculation regarding his health.

U.S. President Donald Trump. Photo by Yonhap News

According to the Washington Post (WP) on the 25th (local time), questions have recently been raised about President Trump's health due to symptoms such as leg swelling and bruising on the back of his hand.

President Trump, who began his term as the oldest president in U.S. history at the time of inauguration, was born on June 14, 1946, and will turn 80 this coming June.

Dr. Jonathan Reiner, who previously served as the personal cardiologist to former Vice President Dick Cheney, told the WP, "It seems the White House is not being fully transparent," adding, "It's natural for health problems to occur with age, and President Trump is now nearly 80 years old."

Dr. Reiner expressed particular concern over President Trump's leg swelling symptoms. The White House had previously announced in July last year that President Trump underwent a comprehensive checkup due to leg swelling, which led to a diagnosis of chronic venous insufficiency. However, it was pointed out that this condition was not mentioned in the results of the preceding health checkup conducted in April of the same year.

Dr. Reiner stated, "If the swelling in his legs appeared rapidly within a few weeks after the April checkup, it could indicate acute edema," and added, "In such cases, a thorough examination is necessary to determine whether conditions such as congestive heart failure are present."

The bruising observed on the back of President Trump's hand has also become a point of controversy. The White House explained that the bruises were caused by President Trump's daily aspirin intake and frequent handshakes. However, some have pointed out that this explanation is insufficient, noting that aspirin dosage can be adjusted and that the bruising appeared specifically on the back of his left hand.

Questions have also been raised regarding his cognitive abilities. Dr. Jeffrey Cuhlman, who served as the personal physician for former Presidents Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, and Barack Obama, told the WP, "Elderly people in their 80s tend to experience declines in memory, reasoning ability, information processing speed, and spatial visualization," and added, "Additional screening of the president's executive cognitive functions may be necessary."

According to the UK daily Guardian, former CIA Director John Brennan also questioned President Trump's mental state after the start of the Iran war and called for his suspension from duty.

It has also been noted as unusual that President Trump returned to the hospital in October, just six months after his annual health checkup in April last year. U.S. presidents typically undergo a health checkup once a year unless there is an urgent medical issue.

President Trump is scheduled to visit Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Maryland, near Washington, DC, on the 26th for a routine dental examination and medical checkup.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.