Trump’s swollen legs prompt questions after impromptu doctor’s visit

President Donald Trump, who turns 80 on June 14, disappeared on Saturday for what was described as a routine "scheduled dental appointment" that wasn't previously listed on the schedule.

It prompted speculation about his health, which has been questioned over the past year that he's spent in office. Then a cryptic note popped up from Rep. Nancy Mace (R-S.C.) asking her followers, "Pray for President Trump."

The Daily Beast then spotted that Trump's ankles were particularly noticeable. There have been many photos of the president over the past year showing his ankles swollen, but over the weekend, they looked rough.

The elderly president landed in Washington on Sunday, climbing down the steps of Air Force One, where videos showed his pant legs were slightly tighter around him than normal. But the photos taken of Trump as he walked off Marine One, onto the White House lawn, showed just how bad things were.

The president wasn't wearing his signature red tie, and his dress shirt was unbuttoned. He stooped as he walked.

Trump's son Don Jr. was in tow.

CNN medical analyst Jonathan Reiner questioned the "dental appointment" excuse on Saturday. In a post on X, he explained that the White House has a dental office on-site. Former President Joe Biden had a root canal while in office.

“There’s been such a lack of candor about the health of the president that even a visit to the dentist raises questions,” Reiner said, questioning why Trump would go.

He added, “Maybe he just likes this dentist.”

Indeed, Trump visited the same dentist in January of this year.

“President Trump is the sharpest, most accessible and energetic president in modern American history," White House spokesperson Davis Ingle told the Daily Beast "repeatedly."

Trump's first "annual physical" was on April 11, 2025, the Beast pointed out. But there was a second "annual physical" six months later, in October, which sparked questions from the press. It was there that Trump got an MRI, which became the topic of conversation for several weeks because the White House didn't release any information about it.

The president is overdue for his annual physical; his last one was on April 11, 2025, after which it was declared that he was in “excellent health.”

Photos captured Trump's swollen ankles last week while King Charles III was visiting, but they appeared far worse over the weekend.

Speaking to The Wall Street Journal in January, Trump confessed that he briefly wore compression socks to help treat the problem, but he "didn't like them" and stopped wearing them.

Headlines on Sunday described the president as looking "weary" and "exhausted."

Another health issue that has been noticed over the past several months is the giant bruise that popped up on Trump's hand. It was so noticeable that cable news began examining photos of the hand and now photographers look for it in each of his public appearances. It became such a huge question about Trump's health that he began wearing a kind of mismatched concealment on his hand to hide the bruise. He also appears to be reflexively covering it while in public.

In that case, the White House said that the president takes an incredibly high dose of aspirin (325 milligrams), high enough that his doctors recommended he lower the dosage by four times. Trump has refused to do it, saying he wants to keep his blood thin so he doesn't have a heart attack.

Questions have surfaced over the past year about the president's cognitive functioning, as he appears to have dozed off in meetings, made errant statements, and failed to hear or understand questions posed to him.

One person who purports to be a nurse said that she believes Trump is actually wearing a leg brace under his clothing. She added that the White House is lying about his health.