Donald Trump’s ankle issue has reportedly caused some issues at the White House, with some aides allegedly bringing up his age. The claims were made in a new book called Regime Change: Inside the Imperial Presidency of Donald Trump. In recent months, Trump’s apparent hand bruising has sparked concern online.
How Donald Trump’s ankle coverage reportedly became an issue
According to claims made in the book Regime Change: Inside the Imperial Presidency of Donald Trump, the President’s ankle coverage led to problems at the White House (via OK Magazine).
Authors Maggie Haberman and Jonathan Swan reported that after news of Trump’s swollen ankles began circulating, he immediately asked White House officials to handle it. The book stated, “Trump was upset about all the coverage of his swollen ankles, and he insisted Karoline Leavitt address it at the podium.”
In 2025, Trump was spotted with lower-leg swelling, also known as cankles. At that time, Trump’s physician, Sean Barabella, released a memo in which he stated that the President was diagnosed with chronic venous insufficiency. The memo stated that Trump had a medical checkup, which included “diagnostic vascular studies and bilateral lower extremity venous Doppler ultrasounds.” These procedures revealed that the President was suffering from chronic venous insufficiency, which is a common condition observed in individuals over the age of 70.
The book also reportedly claims that news of his condition sparked chatter about his age at the White House. The authors noted, “Some of Trump’s aides began to say privately that for the first time he was beginning to seem old to them.” It further conveyed that while White House officials began to notice signs of fatigue, they didn’t bring it up, as “Trump’s personal dominance in any room often papered over what his body could no longer fully conceal.”
Moreover, the book reportedly alleges that Trump began to hold important meetings and press conferences at the White House to avoid standing for too long.
Originally reported by Ishita Verma on Mandatory.
