NCS medical analyst Dr. Jonathan Reiner on Monday known as out the White House for being less-than-forthcoming about President Donald Trump’s well being forward of his deliberate “routine” examination at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center on Tuesday.
It would be the president’s third “annual” examination in simply 13 months.
“This White House just doesn’t seem to want to acknowledge any physical ailment, but older people develop medical issues, and the president is almost 80 years old,” Reiner told The Washington Post. “There just seems to be a lack of candor from the White House.”
Trump has had visibly swollen ankles, aka “cankles,” which the White House said final 12 months is because of chronic venous insufficiency, a typical and sometimes benign situation that includes poor blood move from the legs to the center.
That could cause blood to pool within the legs and ft, as seen on this July 2025 picture of Trump’s ankle:
Reiner known as on the White House to return clear in regards to the particulars of how and when the situation occurred, provided that it wasn’t famous throughout his April 2025 examination at Walter Reed.
He advised the Post that if the situation appeared all of the sudden after that go to, it could possibly be because of acute edema, and “that usually warrants a in-depth evaluation to make sure that you don’t have conditions like congestive heart failure.”
Trump, who turns 80 subsequent month, has usually had bruises on his hand, which the White House has mentioned is from aspirin use and frequent handshaking.
Reiner has previously questioned that as effectively, calling Trump’s 325 milligrams per day of aspirin an “unorthodox” dose.
“Not only is there no benefit in terms of just primary prevention ― trying to prevent a cardiac event by giving them aspirin ― that there can be hazard,” he told The Wall Street Journal. “And the hazard can be bleeding, significant bleeding.”
Trump usually makes use of cosmetics to cowl up the bruising on his hand.
Kent Nishimura/ AFP through Getty Images
Reiner, who beforehand served as heart specialist to Vice President Dick Cheney, has been vocal about Trump’s well being. He’s instructed Trump be examined for sleep apnea given his tendency to seemingly doze throughout meetings.
“Repeatedly falling asleep with a dozen people surrounding your desk is not normal,” he said on X earlier this 12 months. “It needs to be evaluated.”
Trump’s Tuesday go to to Walter Reed will probably be his third annual bodily in 13 months after he had two “annual” medical visits in 2025, in April and once more in October.
Trump mentioned after that second go to that he had an MRI take a look at, which he known as “perfect” with out offering specifics. He later mentioned it was actually a CT scan, however added that he didn’t know which a part of the physique was scanned.
His physician, Navy Capt. Sean Barbabella, later mentioned it was “to definitively rule out any cardiovascular issues” and known as the outcomes “perfectly normal.”
The White House has mentioned Trump may even see a dentist whereas at Walter Reed on Tuesday, which might be his third dental visit this year. His two earlier dental visits have been in Florida in January and once more earlier this month.
The White House didn’t disclose what dental work the president had executed aside from stating that the visits have been “scheduled dental appointments.”
Trump has additionally mentioned he’s taken three cognitive tests.
“No president, think of this, has ever taken one,” he bragged earlier this month, saying he “aced” every of them.