White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt on Thursday addressed concerns about President Trump’s health, particularly the “mild swelling” in his legs, and a bruise on the back of his hand.
During the White House press briefing, Leavitt said, “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. In the effort of transparency, the president wanted me to share a note from his physician.” After listing several tests that Trump underwent, she added, “all results were within normal limits.”
Leavitt said that the president’s medical exam found that he has chronic venous insufficiency, a condition that is common in people over the age of 70. Chronic venous insufficiency is when a person’s leg veins struggle to pump blood back to the heart, causing blood to pool.
Trump, 79, does not have deep vein thrombosis, which is a blood clot, or arterial disease, according to the physician’s note read by Leavitt.
The press secretary said that the bruising on Trump’s hand was “consistent” with irritation from “frequent handshaking and the use of aspirin.” She concluded, “the president remains in excellent health.”
