Donald Trump is taking extreme steps to try and hide his unsightly swollen ankles from public view, liberal critics have claimed. 

MSNBC star Laurence O’Donnell, 79, started a frenzy of speculation on his show The Last Word earlier this week. 

He mentioned that the president, who is also 79 years old, sat behind the Resolute Desk in the Oval Office when meeting with visiting European leaders to conceal his ‘cankles’.

‘Presidents typically do not sit at the Oval Office desk during meetings with visitors from outside the White House staff,’ O’Donnell remarked.

‘He ensured that no one could compare his ankles to those of a French president, a German chancellor, or a British prime minister,’ O’Donnell added.

‘Donald Trump now has an extra incentive to stay behind the desk because the Resolute Desk will help him hide, at least one of his problems.’ 

Later that day, Trump joined Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky away from the desk, on the couches where such discussions usually happen.

However, an official White House photograph cleverly hid Trump’s ankles by placing a model of Trump’s new Air Force One plane on a nearby coffee table.

On Monday, President Trump spoke to international leaders from behind the Resolute Desk in the Oval Office, leading to talk that he attempted to conceal his swollen ankles.

The 79 year-old’s ‘cankles’ are clearly visible in another photo taken the same day  

Other shots taken by wire photographers gave a better view of the president’s cankles – an unflattering term used when a person’s calves and feet are not visually separated by their ankles. 

And even MAGA fans addressed ‘Cankle-gate’. 

Far-right Infowars host Alex Jones claimed they’re a symptom of the president working too hard and warned that Trump faces a health ‘crisis’ if he ‘doesn’t take his foot off the gas pedal.’ 

Trump was recently diagnosed with chronic venous insufficiency, a condition that occurs when a leg vein is damaged and struggles to send blood back to the heart.

Dr David Shokrian, a plastic surgeon with Millennial Plastic Surgery, told the Daily Mail Thursday that Trump’s diagnosis can indeed cause cankles.

‘Venous insufficiency and varicose veins are closely linked to the development of lower limb edema and “cankles” through impaired venous return and increased hydrostatic pressure,’ Dr Shokrian said.

‘It’s likely that the combination of his weight, diet, lack of cardiovascular exercise and stress are all contributing to this problem.’

The plastic surgeon – who is an expert in contouring procedures such as liposuction, Brazilian butt lifts, facelifts and mini tummy tucks – suggested two types of treatments for Trump’s condition. 

‘If swelling is due to venous disease or edema, vascular procedures – ablation, sclerotherapy, compression – are most effective,’ Dr Shokrian said. ‘If due to fat deposits, targeted liposuction and body contouring are the solution.’

Ablation destroys or removes abnormal tissue, sclerotherapy destroys varicose veins, while compression simply involves putting pressure on an affected area. 

He added that patients often benefit from a ‘staged or combined’ treatment plan, dependent on whether the ‘primary problem is fluid or fat’.

But Dr Shokrian warned that liposuction – a notoriously painful procedure – can take weeks to recover from, ruling it out for the President of the United States. 

The White House confirmed Trump’s chronic venous insufficiency diagnosis last month, saying it is a ‘common condition’ in individuals over the age of 70 and that the president showed ‘no evidence’ of deep vein thrombosis or arterial disease. 

An official White House photo of Trump’s meeting with Ukrainian President Volodmyr Zelensky used a model of Trump’s new Air Force One to obscure the president’s ankles

But Associated Press photos show an undeniable chunkiness to the bottom of the president’s feet  

President Trump’s former personal physician Dr. Ronny Jackson forcefully refuted speculation about Trump’s health Thursday – but did not address the cankle issue.

‘As President Trump’s former personal physician, former Physician to the President, and White House physician for 14 years across three administrations, I can tell you unequivocally: President Donald J. Trump is the healthiest president this nation has ever seen’ Jackson said.

‘I continue to consult with his current physician and medical team at the White House and still spend significant time with the President. He is mentally and physically sharper than ever before.’

Trump blasted O’Donnell from his Truth Social account – but avoided drawing further attention to the unflattering cankle claims that had started the ball rolling.

He  blasted MSNBC on his Truth Social platform, branding them ‘fake news’ and alleging the content they create is ‘garbage’. 

But the president publicly denouncing MSNBC’s credibility has not stopped critics and fans alike from expressing concern over his health.

Trump’s swollen ankles were also on full display as he met with Russian President Vladimir Putin during their summit in Alaska last Friday, causing an uproar online.

Some social media users alleged that Trump appeared to ‘struggle walking a straight line down red carpet laid out for Putin’s arrival’.

Others highlighted how while Putin sported a ‘sardonic smile’, Trump merely showcased his ‘swollen ankles’.

Trump’s cankles were also in evidence during a summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska on August 15  

Many Trump supporters insist Trump’s cankles are just an unfortunate side-effect of his ferocious work ethic. 

Trump won his second term in office in large part to the evidence cognitive decline of his Democrat predecessor Joe Biden, 82.

Unlike Biden, Trump is still in sharp command of his mental facilities and has not repeatedly tripped while walking up the stairs of Air Force One.  

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters last month that Trump was checked out by his doctor after noticeable ‘swelling’ and revealed he had been diagnosed with ‘chronic venous insufficiency’.

A letter released by White House Physician Sean Barbarella, DO, references ‘mild swelling’ in Trump’s lower legs, and states the diagnosis emerged after a series of vascular studies. 

Leavitt said during her rare medical update that the president underwent a ‘comprehensive examination’ which included ‘diagnostic vascular studies.’

‘Bilateral, lower extremity ultrasounds were performed and revealed chronic venous insufficiency,’ Leavitt stated. 

She also addressed the ‘minor bruising’ on the back of Trump’s hand. 

‘This is consistent with minor soft-tissue irritation from frequent handshaking and use of aspirin, which is taken as part of a standard cardiovascular prevention regimen. This is a well-known and benign side effect of aspirin therapy.’

‘The president remains in excellent health,’ Leavitt continued and reiterated that there was ‘no discomfort from the president at all.’

She then pointed to his daily activities, highlighting how ‘on a day-to-day basis, he’s working around the clock’.