The White House announced that President Donald Trump was diagnosed with chronic venous insufficiency (CVI) after experiencing mild swelling in his lower legs. Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt read a letter from Trump’s physician, Dr. Sean Barbabella, during a press briefing.
The letter stated that Trump underwent a comprehensive examination, including bilateral lower extremity venous Doppler ultrasounds, which confirmed CVI, described as a “benign and common condition, particularly in individuals over the age of 70.” The examination found no evidence of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) or arterial disease, and Trump’s heart function was reported as normal.
CVI is a condition in which the veins in the legs have difficulty returning blood to the heart, leading to blood pooling and symptoms such as swelling, aching, or varicose veins. It affects an estimated 10–35% of adults, particularly those over 50.
The diagnosis came after public attention to swelling in Trump’s ankles and bruising on his hands. Dr. Barbabella attributed the bruising to minor soft tissue irritation from frequent handshaking and aspirin use, not CVI. The White House emphasized that Trump remains in “excellent health” and experiences no discomfort from the condition.
