The White House has released an official statement following news that President Donald Trump will be taken to the hospital today.
According to the announcement, the 79-year-old president is scheduled to visit Walter Reed National Military Medical Center on Friday morning, October 10, amid growing public concern over his health.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt stated that the visit is for a “routine yearly checkup,” noting that the president will also meet with military personnel during his time at the facility. However, some observers have pointed out that Trump underwent his annual physical examination just six months ago, prompting speculation about the true purpose of the visit.
Concerns about the president’s health first surfaced in July, when photos appeared to show bruising on his hands and swelling around his ankles. Over the summer, Trump was diagnosed with chronic venous insufficiency — a condition that affects blood flow in the leg veins. While the condition is generally considered mild and common among people over 70, it can cause swelling and discomfort due to reduced circulation.
Leavitt emphasized in her statement, “On Friday morning, President Trump will visit Walter Reed Medical Center for a planned meeting and remarks with the troops. While there, he will stop by for his routine yearly checkup before returning to the White House. The President is also considering a trip to the Middle East shortly thereafter.”
Speculation about the president’s health has circulated before. Earlier this year, unfounded rumors of his death spread online after he was not seen publicly for several days. Trump dismissed the claims, telling reporters, “I didn’t hear that one. That’s pretty serious stuff.”
He later reassured the public with a post reading, “NEVER FELT BETTER IN MY LIFE,” and joked with reporters aboard Air Force One, saying, “Good heart. A good soul. Very good soul. I wanted to be a little different than Biden. I took a cognitive test — and I got every answer right.”
