Is the Trump White House okay? Medically speaking, we now have an answer: Yes, President Trump just has a “benign and common” vein condition known as chronic venous insufficiency.
But is it okay on, like, a spiritual level? It’s unclear. The fact that Trump-administration officials provided a real answer to the questions swirling about the president’s health suggests they are unraveling.
Over the weekend, Trump showed up to the FIFA Club World Cup final in New Jersey with noticeably swollen ankles. On Tuesday and Wednesday, photos and video showed that Trump had a weird splotch of makeup on the back of his hand, which appeared to be a poor attempt to cover up a bruise.
Trump was spotted with large bruises on his hand in December, February, April, and June. Each time, armchair physicians speculated wildly online, diagnosing Trump with a variety of gnarly ailments, from syphilis to congestive heart failure. And Trump and his team always provided the same explanation: It’s one of those handshaking injuries you’re always hearing about.
“President Trump is a man of the people, and he meets more Americans and shakes their hands on a daily basis than any other president in history. His commitment is unwavering and he proves that every single day,” White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said earlier this week.
But on Thursday afternoon, the White House admitted that there’s a little more going on than some extraordinarily vigorous greetings. Leavitt said that after noticing mild swelling in his legs in recent weeks, Trump underwent a “comprehensive examination, including diagnostic vascular studies.”
She read a note from Trump’s physician that said the exam “revealed chronic venous insufficiency, ICD-9, a common condition, particularly in individuals over the age of 70.” However, there was “no evidence of deep vein thrombosis or arterial disease” and an echocardiogram found “no signs of heart failure, renal impairment, or systemic illness.”
Leavitt also noted that Trump has experienced hand bruising, which she attributed, once again, to handshaking … and the president taking aspirin daily as a preventative measure. “This is consistent with minor soft-tissue irritation from frequent handshaking and the use of aspirin, which is taken as part of a standard cardiovascular prevention regiment,” she said.
A few decades ago, a presidential disclosure like this might not be considered all that transparent. The White House released the note Leavitt read from, but it does not contain any specific test results:
However, coming from the Trump administration, this is huge — and a bit unsettling. In a situation like this, Team Trump usually just digs in on its incoherent explanation. But instead it just … caved in and gave a more satisfying answer? And no one was even all that belligerent about it?
The folks in the White House aren’t behaving like themselves. It’s probably a good idea to leave work early, get a good night’s sleep, and practice some self-care. That Epstein scandal will still be there tomorrow!
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