\n<\/p>\n
Donald Trump<\/strong> insists he\u2019s fine<\/em>\u2014a paragon of health and vitality, in fact. And if you think otherwise? \u201cIt\u2019s seditious, perhaps even treasonous,\u201d in the president\u2019s estimation.<\/p>\n \u201cI work very hard, probably harder than I have ever worked before,\u201d Trump declared in a Truth Social post<\/a> last week, seemingly in response to a weeks-old New York Times<\/em> report<\/a> about the 79-year-old\u2019s apparent decline in stamina. \u201cI will know when I am \u2018slowing up,\u2019 but it\u2019s not now!\u201d<\/p>\n Of course, his belated declaration of hardiness only drew more attention to his health\u2014a subject of particular scrutiny during this first year of Trump\u2019s second term. (\u201cMine is good,\u201d Trump\u2019s chief of staff, Susie Wiles,<\/strong> recently told Vanity Fair<\/em><\/a> when asked about her health and that of the president. \u201cHis is great.\u201d) What\u2019s going on with his hands? Why is he seemingly dozing off during meetings? (Per Wiles: \u201cHe\u2019s not asleep. He\u2019s got his eyes closed and his head leaned back\u2026and, you know, he\u2019s fine.\u201d) And why does he always seem to be taking cognitive tests? Here, we review the questions Trump has faced since January\u2014and the fervent denials that have only kept speculation simmering.<\/p>\n Trump wears a bandage on his right hand delivering remarks during an event at Mount Airy Casino Resort, December 9, 2025.<\/span>Alex Wong\/Getty Images.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/figure>\n Let\u2019s start with Trump\u2019s hands, which have repeatedly appeared bruised or discolored and have occasionally been covered with Band-Aids<\/a> or caked-on makeup\u2014as seen during his recent appearance at the White House Congressional Ball<\/a>. Karoline Leavitt,<\/strong> the White House press secretary, has said that the president\u2019s hands are bruised \u201cbecause he\u2019s constantly working and shaking hands all day every day.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cPresident Trump is a man of the people,\u201d Leavitt explained<\/a> in February. \u201cThe president is literally constantly shaking hands,\u201d Leavitt reiterated<\/a> this month.<\/p>\n Sean Barbabella,<\/strong> physician to the president, also chalked up Trump\u2019s hand bruises to his glad-handing habit, as well as an aspirin regimen. \u201cPresident Trump remains in excellent health,\u201d Barbabella said<\/a> in a July memo. But many social media users (as well as doctors who haven\u2019t treated Trump<\/a>) have questioned that explanation, speculating instead that the bruising and Band-Aids could be related to an undisclosed medical condition.<\/p>\n<\/div>\nThe Hand Situation<\/strong><\/h2>\n