The diagnosis follows mounting public curiosity after photos appeared to show visible bruises on Trump’s hands – something Leavitt said was “consistent with minor soft tissue irritation from frequent handshaking and the use of aspirin, which is taken as part of a standard cardiovascular prevention regimen.”

According to the National Institutes of Health, chronic venous insufficiency is generally caused by “incompetent venous valves.”

Symptoms can include leg swelling, pain, skin discoloration, itching, limb heaviness, and edema.

If left untreated, it can result in “diminished quality of life and loss of work productivity” and more serious complications such as venous ulcers. The NIH estimates around 150,000 new cases are diagnosed each year.

Trump, who at 79 is the oldest person to ever hold the U.S. presidency, has routinely made age and health a talking point in politics, most notably during his 2024 re-election campaign.

Throughout the election season, Trump repeatedly targeted then-President Joe Biden’s mental and physical health, citing signs of “cognitive decline.”

That criticism grew louder until Biden ultimately exited the race in July under pressure from within his own party, passing