Trump to undergo annual physical as questions persist over recent health issues

Washington: United States President Donald Trump is due to undergo his annual physical on Tuesday at Walter Reed National Military Medical Centre, as attention remains focused on a series of recent health-related issues.

Trump, who turns 80 on June 14, became the oldest person to take office when he began his second term in January 2025. He has often portrayed himself as more energetic and physically fit than his predecessor Joe Biden, who left office last year at the age of 82 after facing scrutiny over his fitness for office.

Recent photographs showing a blotchy rash on Trump’s neck have added to questions about his health. The scrutiny follows images published in July 2025 that showed swollen ankles and a bruised hand that had been covered with makeup. White House physician Sean Barbabella said Trump was using a common cream as a preventative skin treatment for the neck rash, though he did not provide further details about the condition.

After the photographs of Trump’s legs and hands were published last July, Barbabella said in a letter that the issues were benign and that there was no sign of deep vein thrombosis or arterial disease. White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt told reporters that the swelling in Trump’s legs was caused by a common vein condition and that the bruise on his hand resulted from shaking so many hands.

MRI and medical claims

Trump said in October last year that he had undergone a magnetic resonance imaging exam that month. The White House initially did not provide more detail on why the scan had been carried out. Leavitt later said only that the test showed Trump was in exceptional physical health.

Trump subsequently told reporters that the MRI had been part of a second physical examination.

Attributing the remarks to the president, he said:

Getting an MRI is very standard. What, you think I shouldn’t have it? Other people get it… I had an MRI. The doctor said it was the best result he has ever seen as a doctor

Medical experts noted that MRIs are not usually included in routine physical examinations and are generally ordered to obtain detailed images of the body. In a memo issued after the second exam, Barbabella said Trump’s cardiac age, described as a validated measure of cardiovascular vitality through ECG, was assessed at about 14 years younger than his actual age.

Public appearances and fitness remarks

Trump maintains an active golf schedule and recently joked about his level of exercise during an Oval Office event. At that event, Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr said the president walks 14.5 kilometres every time he plays golf. Trump responded:

When I am not using the cart

He has also faced questions after appearing to fall asleep during several meetings, including a Cabinet session. Trump addressed that issue in February while speaking to officials.

Some people said, ‘he closed his eyes’. Look, it got pretty boring

I didn’t sleep. I just closed them because I wanted to get the hell outta here.

The latest examination comes against the backdrop of wider public discussion about the health of ageing American leaders. Biden was diagnosed last year with an aggressive form of prostate cancer that had spread to his bones and later underwent radiation therapy.