Trump's latest physical: White House declares 79-year-old 'fully fit' but report omits recent neck rash and notes weight gain

The White House on Friday released the results of President Donald Trump's latest physical examination, conducted Tuesday at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center. The memo from White House physician Dr. Sean Barbabella paints a broadly positive picture of the 79-year-old president's health, stating he 'remains in excellent health, demonstrating strong cardiac, pulmonary, neurological and overall physical function' and is 'fully fit to carry out all duties of the commander-in-chief and head of state.'

The numbers behind the assessment

Trump weighed in at 238 pounds (108 kg), roughly 14 pounds more than his April 2025 exam. Barbabella counseled the president on weight loss, recommending increased physical activity and dietary changes. The memo also noted 'slight lower leg swelling … with improvement from last year' and continued hand bruising described as 'benign' and 'consistent with minor soft tissue irritation related to frequent handshaking in the setting of aspirin use for cardiovascular prevention.' Trump's blood pressure was measured at 105 mmHg, a reading one outside expert flagged as potentially concerning.

A man of that age generally has declining kidney function and higher blood pressure. I find it hard to imagine that Donald Trump experiences no stress. That's why this report seems exceptionally favorable.

What the report left out

Conspicuously absent from the memo was any mention of a skin rash that appeared on Trump's neck in March. At the time, Barbabella attributed it to a side effect of a 'very common cream' used as a 'preventive skin treatment.' The dermatologic section of the latest assessment made no reference to the condition or the treatment. The memo also did not indicate whether Trump underwent another MRI, as he did in October.

A pattern of opacity

Trump's history of downplaying health issues and withholding medical records has fueled skepticism. During his 2015 campaign, his former doctor Harold Bornstein released a letter declaring Trump would be 'the healthiest individual ever elected to the presidency' — a letter Bornstein later said Trump himself had dictated. When hospitalized with Covid-19 in 2020, his doctors were criticized for providing incomplete information.

Americans historically have wanted masculine presidents, vigorous presidents. The physical exam is one way a president can outwardly demonstrate his own vitality and therefore project a sense of political power.

The political dimension

Trump, who turns 80 on June 14, is the oldest person ever elected to the US presidency. His predecessor Joe Biden was 82 when he left office amid persistent questions about his mental acuity. Trump has made his perceived vigor central to his political image, declaring after Tuesday's exam that 'everything checked out perfectly' and previously claiming he feels 'the same as 50 years ago.' The visit was his third in 13 months and fourth of his second term, closely watched after photographs revealed swollen ankles, bruised hands, and a blotchy neck over the past year.

Expert skepticism

Belgian professor of general medicine Dirk Devroey, analyzing the report for VTM NIEUWS, questioned how such results align with Trump's lifestyle and high-stress role. He expressed doubt about the handshake explanation for Trump's hand bruising, noting the bruises appear on both hands and suggesting they more likely reflect age-related vascular fragility. Devroey endorsed the official recommendation that Trump increase physical activity, advising about an hour of walking per day for someone his age.