President Donald Trump has been diagnosed with a vein condition that explains recent photos showing his ankles looking unusually swollen. 

The President has chronic venous insufficiency (CVI), where veins in the legs struggle to send blood back to the heart, causing it to pool.

The condition is common in older adults – about one in three people over 70 have it – and it can run in families. It often develops from issues like varicose veins or past blood clots that damage the veins. 

As the condition worsens, veins weaken, blood backs up, and swelling, pain and poor circulation follow. It also raises the risk of new clots forming, though White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said Trump has no history of blood clots.

Leavitt also said Trump had experienced swelling in his lower legs for weeks and was checked by the White House medical team.

A Doppler ultrasound confirmed the diagnosis but showed no signs of clots or artery problems, and an echocardiogram also showed his heart is working normally. 

A photo of Trump Sunday at a Club World Cup soccer match drew numerous comments about his ankles, which appeared swollen

Trump’s blood panel and battery of lab tests did not return any alarming results, according to Leavitt.

But while officials insist the condition is ‘not harmful’ and that Trump ‘remains in excellent health,’ experts – none of whom have treated the president – warn chronic venous insufficiency can worsen if untreated.

‘In the legs, the most serious consequence of chronic venous insufficiency is developing a venous ulcer,’ Theresa Larkin, associate professor of medical sciences at University of Wollongong in Australia, wrote in a piece published in The Conversation.

‘Venous ulcers can be painful [and] are prone to infection (such as cellulitis)… In more progressive or severe cases, surgery may be needed to fix the inside of the veins, remove any underlying deep vein thrombosis (DVT) or insert a stent in the case of a vein compression.’ 

Dr William Shutz, a vascular surgeon at Texas Vascular Associates, told the Daily Mail that people who develop leg swelling may have an underlying heart issue, which is why it’s crucial that Trump’s doctors performed an echocardiogram.

It can signal damaged valves inside the veins in the legs, which work against gravity, helping to pump blood back to the heart from the legs. But when those valves are damaged, blood flows backward and pools in the legs. 

CVI causes heavy, swollen legs after standing, ankle swelling or spider-like veins. While not life-threatening on its own, CVI is chronic and, if left unchecked, it can spiral into skin ulcers and raises the risk of a severe clot, including DVT.

Pictured is Trump’s swollen left ankle as he sits with Bahrain’s Crown Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa in the Oval Office of the White House on July 16, 2025

Around four percent of seniors with CVI develop venous ulcers, painful open sores on the skin that take weeks to heal.  

The telltale signs are puffiness that lingers overnight, itchy brownish skin near the ankles or aching relief only when feet are elevated.

Doctors can diagnose it with a quick ultrasound, while prevention involves movement, compression socks and avoiding prolonged sitting. The key: don’t brush off ‘tired legs,’ as ‘early intervention avoids worst-case scenarios.’

Dr Shutz generally tells his patients to wear compression socks during the day, which gently squeeze the legs to help veins push blood upward.

The doctor also recommends exercises that strengthen the calves, such as calf raises or climbing stairs.

While CVI often stems from untreated varicose veins or past blood clots, experts note that age and prolonged sitting can independently strain circulation.

Even without a history of DVT, long hours in meetings or frequent air travel may contribute to venous pressure buildup over time.

Living an active lifestyle is crucial for vascular health. Walking for about 30 minutes five days per week is a popular, low-impact way to get blood pumping. Doctors generally recommend aiming for about 8,000 steps per day.

‘The president is busy for sure. I’m not so sure about his activity level,’ Dr Shutz said. 

‘Of course he is traveling, and while we’re busy when we travel, are we really active? Especially if he’s doing international travel, he’s doing a lot of sitting.

‘If he’s in the White House, I imagine that he may move from room to room for meetings, but he’s got a lot of meetings. What’s he doing? He’s sitting.’

Unlike past presidents who jogged or played sports, there’s little evidence that Trump engages in regular physical activity.

‘I don’t have the confidence to say that he’s physically active, and if he were one of my patients, that’s something that we would certainly be talking about.’ 

Doctors suggested to the Daily Mail that the spot likely hid a blood-draw mark, though the White House maintained it was from frequent handshaking

The latest news out of the White House comes not only on the heels of fresh speculation over his swollen ankles, but also of a conspicuous patch of makeup that appeared on the back of his hand recently, and several times in the past.

Doctors previously told the Daily Mail that, based on photographs, the spot appeared to be covering up the effects of a routine blood draw, although Leavitt repeated the White House’s explanation that frequent handshaking had caused bruising there.

Speculation about Trump’s health has been building since he regained office in January, around which time he appeared with a bruised hand. Such instances have cropped up almost monthly since then.

His April 2025 physical report stated Trump was in excellent physical and cognitive health ‘and is fully fit,’ according to White House physician Capt Sean Barbabella. 

‘President Trump remains in excellent health, exhibiting robust cardiac, pulmonary, neurological and general physical function,’ Barbabella said. 

His hearing and cognitive tests were normal, and a colonoscopy found minor issues, including diverticulosis and a benign polyp, but nothing serious. 

Trump has also lost 20 pounds since 2020, his cholesterol is now in a healthy range thanks to medication, and his brain function checks out fine. Vaccines are up to date, though the report didn’t specify which ones. 

Trump’s doctor wrapped up the report with a lighthearted note, saying the former president keeps a packed schedule – meetings, speeches, press conferences and plenty of golf wins.