President Donald Trump’s Recent Medical Checkup
President Donald Trump recently visited the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center for his second checkup since October, as public concerns about his mental fitness continue to grow ahead of his 80th birthday. The visit took place on Tuesday at 8:52 am in Bethesda, Maryland, where he underwent what the White House described as “his annual dental and medical evaluations” alongside visits with military personnel.
Trump spent approximately three and a half hours at the facility before returning to the White House. In a post on Truth Social, he referred to the visit as a “six-month physical” and claimed that “everything” had “checked out PERFECTLY.” This was his third publicly disclosed checkup with Dr. Sean Barbabella, his U.S. Navy physician, since October 2025, and his fourth since returning to the White House in January.
His first checkup at Walter Reed occurred during his second term in April 2025, when the White House stated he was in “excellent health” and weighed 224 pounds—20 pounds less than five years earlier. A subsequent evaluation by Dr. Barbabella in July 2025 followed reports of swollen ankles, which led to a CT scan in October to rule out cardiovascular issues.
Rising Scrutiny Over Health and Fitness
The latest examination comes amid growing scrutiny over Trump’s mental and physical condition as he approaches his ninth decade. Reports of him falling asleep during public events, displaying erratic behavior, and showing signs of physical decline have raised concerns among Americans about his ability to serve as president.
Photographers have frequently captured visible bruising on both of Trump’s hands, which he attempts to conceal with makeup. The White House has attributed this to frequent handshaking and the side effects of a high daily dose of aspirin. However, no explanation has been given for the similar bruising on the back of his left hand, which is not typically used for shaking hands.
In July, after photos revealed Trump’s swollen ankles, Dr. Barbabella issued a memorandum stating that he was suffering from Chronic Veinous Insufficiency, a common and benign vein condition. He also acknowledged that Trump was using a preventative skin treatment for an unspecified dermatological issue, following photos of a blotchy red rash around his neck.
Medical Assessments and Public Perception
Despite these concerns, the U.S. Navy Captain has described Trump’s “cardiac age” as approximately 14 years younger than his chronological age. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt noted that a CT scan taken during his October exam indicated that Trump was in “exceptional physical health.”
However, Trump’s condition is increasingly being questioned after instances of him appearing to fall asleep during several meetings, including a cabinet meeting late last year. A Reuters/Ipsos poll in April found that 51 percent of Americans believe Trump’s mental faculties declined in 2025 and early 2026. That same poll revealed that only a quarter of Americans believe he is “even-tempered.”
A Washington Post/Ipsos poll from the same month found that just four in ten Americans now believe Trump has the mental sharpness required for the presidency, a drop of seven points from previous months. Concerns about his physical health are also on the rise.
Trump’s Claims About Cognitive Ability
Despite these concerns, Trump frequently boasts about his cognitive condition, including his ability to pass routine screenings used to detect dementia. During an Oval Office event in late March, he claimed to be the “only president that ever took a cognitive test.”
“I took it three times. It’s actually a very hard test for a lot of people. It wasn’t hard for me. But it’s a cognitive test,” he said. “It starts off with an easy question. And by the time you get to the middle, it gets tougher. By the time you get to the end, very few people can answer those questions. They get very tough mathematical equations and things.”
