Photos of President Donald Trump taken on Sunday at the FIFA Club World Cup, showing his ankles appearing to be severely swollen, have sparked new speculation about his health among social media users. Some have described the swelling as “2+ to 3+ edema” on a scale of 4.
The president and first lady Melania were present at the final at Metlife Stadium in New Jersey between Chelsea and PSG as part of a broader initiative to promote US participation ahead of next year’s World Cup, which will be held mainly in the US. Trump received a mixed reception of applause and boos when he appeared on the stadium screen, and was booed again as he presented medals to Enzo Maresca’s Blues.
The president was photographed during the event from a frontal position. X commentators immediately focused on his visibly swollen ankles. “What in the h— is going on with Trump’s legs and feet? Look at how his shoes are completely untied,” one X user wrote. “Whatever he’s hiding is getting worse.”
“HEART FAILURE causes fluid accumulation in the lower legs,” another commenter wrote. “His heart is too weak to pump blood through his kidneys efficiently so they can’t remove excess fluid from the body.” According to WebMD, venous insufficiency is one of the most common causes of swelling in the ankles and feet, where fluid accumulates in the legs.
Swelling in the legs can also be a sign of deep vein thrombosis, congestive heart failure, or kidney or liver disease.
The ankles are not the only part of the MAGA leader’s body that has sparked debate about his health. On Tuesday, July 15, during a press conference, viewers could clearly see that Trump’s hand was covered in foundation–purportedly to disguise bruising. The visible bruising is not new, as it was first noticed on Trump’s hands in the spring of 2024.
Observers also noted a slumped sitting posture that was equally alarming, as, according to medical experts, it could be interpreted as compensating for breathing difficulty.
Since these concerns emerged, White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt has been questioned about the causes of the MAGA leader’s huge bruise. “President Trump is a man of the people. His commitment is unwavering, and he proves that every single day,” Leavitt simply said. “President Trump has bruises on his hand because he’s constantly working and shaking hands all day, every day,” repeating words that Trump himself said in the recent past to justify the bruises on the back of his hands.
