The 80-year-old’s so-called “cankles” looked bulgier than ever during his appearance at the NATO summit in Turkey, sparking suggestions that his health is worsening. Dr Sanjiv Lakhanpal, founder and chief executive of the Centre for Vein Restoration, said Mr Trump’s lifestyle habits could be exacerbating the condition, which is caused by the veins in someone’s legs struggling to send blood back to the heart.
He told the Daily Beast the president was likely “doing all the things that people with CVI should not be doing”, including posting on Truth Social throughout the night and not exercising.
Dr Lakhanpal said: “If you don’t maintain a certain kind of lifestyle – which would be maintaining a certain body mass index – and you’re up at odd times, and you’re not using compression socks so you’re fatigued, this won’t be helping.”
The doctor also suggested the condition could contribute to the president’s slightly lopsided gait, as noticed by commentators in recent weeks.
“If somebody’s fatigued, has not slept well, is not feeling the healthiest and their legs are heavy – all that could lead to the kind of gait you’ve been seeing,” he said.
Mr Trump has previously come under scrutiny about his cognitive and physical health after appearing in public with bruised hands and suffering instances of memory loss.
The octogenarian, who is the oldest president in US history, has insisted he remains in “perfect” health, however, with his latest medical report also praising his “excellent” overall state.
A White House spokesperson also hit back at Dr Lakhanpal’s claims, criticising the Daily Beast for reporting on them and denouncing it as a “mentally challenged, lightweight operation”.
“Hopefully the idiots who work there will eventially be able to get themselves a real job,” they added.
White House physician Sean Barbarella confirmed Mr Trump had been diagnosed with CVI last July, describing it as a “benign and common condition”.