US President Donald Trump’s long-discussed ankle swelling has once again drawn public attention after a photo taken during an informal podcast recording in Georgia surfaced online.
The image, shared by sports podcaster Josh Pate, shows Trump seated at The Varsity fast-food restaurant in Rome, Georgia, ahead of a political rally. In the photo, Trump’s lower legs appear visibly swollen above his shoes, prompting renewed speculation about his health.
Pate posted the image on social media, noting that Trump would appear on his show. According to local reports, the president stopped at the restaurant for a cheeseburger and briefly recorded the podcast episode before continuing his campaign engagements.
White House cites medical condition
The White House has consistently maintained that Trump’s ankle swelling is caused by chronic venous insufficiency, a condition common among older adults in which veins struggle to circulate blood efficiently back to the heart.
Trump previously acknowledged in an interview with The Wall Street Journal that he had used compression socks to manage the condition but stopped wearing them because he “didn’t like them.”
His aides also told the publication that increased movement and walking had helped improve the swelling.
Responding to the latest photo, a White House spokesperson defended Trump’s health and fitness and told
“President Trump is the sharpest, most accessible, and energetic president in modern American history,” while dismissing criticism surrounding his condition.
However, questions around Trump’s health have persisted following recent public appearances.
During the inaugural meeting of the “Board of Peace” on Thursday, cameras captured the 79-year-old president appearing to briefly doze off while seated, marking the latest in a series of instances where he has appeared fatigued at official engagements.
Similar incidents in recent months
The latest episode follows several instances where Trump’s swollen ankles were noticed during public appearances. Last week, photographs captured during a meeting with Colombian President Gustavo Petro in the Oval Office also drew attention to the issue.
In October last year, Trump’s ankles appeared visibly swollen during talks with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney. A month earlier, similar observations were made when Trump and First Lady Melania Trump returned from an overseas visit.
Trump, currently the oldest person to assume the US presidency, has also been photographed appearing fatigued at some recent official meetings, further fuelling debate over his health and stamina.
