Donald Trump’s noticeably swollen ankles made their final public appearance Tuesday when the president hosted Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney in the Oval Office.
The 79-year-old president’s cankles were photographed bulging over the tops of his black dress shoes during the meeting, which failed to produce a trade deal between the two American neighbors.
Trump, who revived his idea of ​​annexing Canada as the 51st state during his speech to top U.S. military leaders last week, has walked on enlarged ankles for months, due to a common condition in older people where legs accumulate.
The extent of the president’s swelling was hard to miss Tuesday as he sat next to Carney, 60, and Vice President JD Vance, 41, whose ankles seemed delicate by comparison.
When reached for comment on the photos, White House spokesman Kush Desai told The Daily Beast that the president is in “tremendous health” and said, “President Trump is a champion-level golfer with the vitality, mental acuity, and energy levels that most young people couldn’t fathom.”
Trump added a glossy coat of makeup to cover the bruise on his right hand for his meeting with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney. / Anna Moneymaker/ Getty Images
The White House Account
In September, Trump’s swollen ankles stood in stark contrast to those of First Lady Melania as the couple disembarked from Marine One upon returning from the United Kingdom.
The president’s bulging shafts were caught on camera when he and first lady Melania returned from the United Kingdom last month. /The Daily Beast/ Reuters
Trump, the oldest person ever inaugurated as president, has been diagnosed with chronic venous insufficiency, which occurs when damaged veins slow blood backing up toward the heart.
Questions about his health have only mounted since the White House announced the diagnosis in July, as he has shown a persistent bruise on his hand and at times struggled to walk in a straight line.
Trump added a fresh layer of makeup to cover the bruise for his meeting with Carney, as he often does for public outings.
The White House has dismissed the concerns, attributing the large bruise to the vigorous handshake combined with “the use of aspirin, which is taken as part of a standard cardiovascular prevention regimen.”
Trump’s bruised ankles and hand have fueled speculation surrounding the 79-year-old’s health. / Chip somodevilla/ getty images
Trump has said little about his health problems. Speaking to Navy sailors on Sunday, he claimed that he had been declared a healthier “physical specimen” than Barack Obama and George W. Bush.
He also once again criticized the fitness of 82-year-old Joe Biden, speculating about the former president’s chances of falling stairs, before reflecting on his own fragility in a surprising turn.
“I have to be careful because one day I’m probably going to fall,” he said.
Trump’s mental acuity has also been questioned, as he routinely gives incoherent and rambling speeches, and misstates simple facts about his life, such as the year he began his first term when the president began.
(Tagstotranslate) Donald Trump (T) Mark Carney (T) Swollen ankles (T) White House (T) Mental acuity (T) The Oval Office