President Donald Trump has been found to have a condition that leads to blood pooling in his legs, following an examination for “mild swelling in his lower legs,” according to a statement from White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt on Thursday.
During a press conference, Leavitt explained that Trump has been diagnosed with chronic venous insufficiency, a “benign” and common condition among individuals older than 70 years. The president is currently 79.
Subsequent tests revealed no signs of any severe or life-threatening conditions such as deep vein thrombosis. However, they confirmed the diagnosis of chronic venous insufficiency, she added.
What is chronic venous insufficiency?
Normally, oxygen-rich blood is pumped all over the body, including throughout the arms and legs. Veins then send that blood back to the heart to reoxygenate.
Sometimes, veins in the legs become damaged and can’t manage to return that blood as well as they should, according to the Cleveland Clinic. When that happens, blood settles in the legs, leading to a condition called chronic venous insufficiency.
Patients can experience swelling, pain and skin discoloration. Sometimes, ulcers develop.
The condition itself is common, affecting an estimated 1 in 20 adults, usually over age 50. Dr. Lee Kirksey, a vascular surgeon at the Cleveland Clinic, said it’s not life-threatening.
It does, however, “raise a yellow flag for us to look at underlying issues, whether it’s body weight or whether it’s a sedentary lifestyle,” Kirksey said.
According to Trump’s April 2025 physical, his heart function is normal and “blood flow to his extremities is unimpaired.” His latest physical also says he is 6-foot-3 and weighs 239 pounds, which indicates he is overweight, according to the NIH BMI Calculator. Being overweight or obese is a risk factor for chronic venous insufficiency.
How is chronic venous insufficiency treated?
Dr. Aaron ay, co-director of vascular medicine at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville, said the key is to work those leg veins to get them pumping again.
“When we walk, the muscles in our feet and our legs squeeze our veins that help pump blood back to the heart,” ay said. “If you’re sitting or standing, say, on a plane ride or a desk job, that pressure can build up, causing achiness and heaviness in the legs.”
There’s no specific treatment for chronic venous insufficiency. Wearing compression stockings and elevating legs can be helpful, experts said.
Blood thinners can also help prevent blood clots from forming. Trump takes aspirin, a blood thinner, according to his medical records.
Neither Kirksey nor ay is involved with Trump’s care.
On Thursday, the president’s physician, Dr. Sean Barbabella, said in a memo that “President Trump remains in excellent health.”
