CNN medical analyst Dr. Jonathan Reiner on Monday referred to as out the White Home for being less-than-forthcoming about President Donald Trump’s well being forward of his deliberate “routine” examination at Walter Reed Nationwide Army Medical Heart on Tuesday.
It will likely be the president’s third “annual” examination in simply 13 months.
“This White Home simply doesn’t appear to need to acknowledge any bodily ailment, however older individuals develop medical points, and the president is sort of 80 years outdated,” Reiner instructed The Washington Publish. “There simply appears to be a scarcity of candor from the White Home.”
Trump has had visibly swollen ankles, aka “cankles,” which the White Home mentioned final yr is because of power venous insufficiency, a typical and sometimes benign situation that includes poor blood circulation from the legs to the guts.
That may trigger blood to pool within the legs and toes, as seen on this July 2025 photograph of Trump’s ankle:
Reiner referred to as on the White Home to come back clear in regards to the particulars of how and when the situation occurred, on condition that it wasn’t famous throughout his April 2025 examination at Walter Reed.
He instructed the Publish that if the situation appeared all of the sudden after that go to, it could possibly be as a result of acute edema, and “that normally warrants a in-depth analysis to just be sure you don’t have situations like congestive coronary heart failure.”
Trump, who turns 80 subsequent month, has usually had bruises on his hand, which the White Home has mentioned is from aspirin use and frequent handshaking.
Reiner has up to now questioned that as nicely, calling Trump’s 325 milligrams per day of aspirin an “unorthodox” dose.
“Not solely is there no profit by way of simply major prevention ― attempting to forestall a cardiac occasion by giving them aspirin ― that there might be hazard,” he instructed The Wall Avenue Journal. “And the hazard might be bleeding, important bleeding.”
Trump usually makes use of cosmetics to cowl up the bruising on his hand.
Kent Nishimura/ AFP through Getty Photographs
Reiner, who beforehand served as heart specialist to Vice President Dick Cheney, has been vocal about Trump’s well being. He’s steered Trump be examined for sleep apnea given his tendency to seemingly doze throughout conferences.
“Repeatedly falling asleep with a dozen individuals surrounding your desk will not be regular,” he mentioned on X earlier this yr. “It must be evaluated.”
Trump’s Tuesday go to to Walter Reed shall be his third annual bodily in 13 months after he had two “annual” medical visits in 2025, in April and once more in October.
Trump mentioned after that second go to that he had an MRI check, which he referred to as “excellent” with out offering specifics. He later mentioned it was truly a CT scan, however added that he didn’t know which a part of the physique was scanned.
His physician, Navy Capt. Sean Barbabella, later mentioned it was “to definitively rule out any cardiovascular points” and referred to as the outcomes “completely regular.”
The White Home has mentioned Trump can even see a dentist whereas at Walter Reed on Tuesday, which might be his third dental go to this yr. His two earlier dental visits have been in Florida in January and once more earlier this month.
The White Home didn’t disclose what dental work the president had carried out aside from stating that the visits have been “scheduled dental appointments.”
Trump has additionally mentioned he’s taken three cognitive checks.
“No president, consider this, has ever taken one,” he bragged earlier this month, saying he “aced” every of them.
