Donald Trump’s swollen ankles have been the subject of intense scrutiny in recent weeks and the White House used a clever trick to cover it up
The White House employed a cunning tactic to conceal Donald Trump’s swollen ankles during his Monday meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
The U.S. president’s enlarged ankles have been under intense scrutiny of late, with many noting how his shoes appear increasingly ill-fitted – his feet and ankles seemingly straining against them.
Trump is afflicted with chronic venous insufficiency (CVI), a condition that hampers the veins’ ability to return blood to the heart. This diagnosis came after public attention was drawn to his swollen ankles.
Medical professionals state that CVI, common in individuals over 70, isn’t life-threatening but can become riskier with age and may be worsened by an unhealthy diet.
Trump isn’t renowned for his nutritious eating habits – he frequently consumes Diet Coke and fast food, including McDonald’s.
However, Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has stated that Trump now eats his McDonald’s burgers bun-free in an attempt to adopt a healthier lifestyle, reports the Irish Star.
Trump’s swollen ankles became the focal point during his summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin late last week in Alaska. An expansive red carpet was laid out for both leaders, who converged in the centre and exchanged handshakes before sharing transport to another section of Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson for their private discussions.
During the encounter, sharp-eyed photographers and reporters stationed on the tarmac snapped pictures of the president’s enlarged ankles, fuelling further worry about the president’s wellbeing.
Just days beforehand, journalists questioned White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt regarding Trump’s ankles, which led her to firmly respond: “Look, you see the president every day. He’s moving, he’s working, he’s continuing. There have been no adjustments made to his lifestyle.”
She was subsequently asked whether Trump’s White House physician, Sean Barbabella, could address the president’s health, but she stated she didn’t “want to make that commitment on behalf of the physician.
Leavitt said: “It’s certainly something we can look into and explore out of the effort of transparency, because, unlike the previous White House, there is nothing to hide.”
Trump also holds the record as the oldest U.S. president to be inaugurated, being 78 when he assumed office – the same age as Biden, but several months further into his 78th year. His physical and cognitive health have been repeatedly questioned due to a series of mental blunders and unusual bruising observed on his right hand.
As Trump convened with Zelenskyy and six other European leaders at the White House on Monday to discuss peace in Ukraine, the 79 year old’s swollen ankles were difficult to overlook. His trousers rode up his legs as he settled down with the 47 year old Ukrainian leader, and his puffy ankles were apparent in the livestream, at times, as well as in photographs captured by pool photographers who were present for the meeting.
The White House’s official account, however, shared an image that appeared to intentionally conceal the unsightly health concern. It showcased Trump’s beloved Air Force One model, which sits on the coffee table in the Oval Office.
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The aircraft, which has been a fixture of Trump’s Oval Office decoration since his first presidency, obscures his ankles. It appears to have been strategically positioned to mask most of the swelling in his lower extremities.
“President Donald J. Trump and President @ZelenskyyUa in the Oval Office,” the photograph was captioned.
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