Donald Trump's Health

[elvenwear]

It's not a Tic-tac. It's not an Ice Breaker. It's not a Life Saver. It's not an Altoid. It's not an Eclipse.

That's my stash exhausted...

If it's not a tic-tac or a balloon I have no idea what it is.

 

[jdog]

Looks like we're in for another around of speculation:

These and similar images are on the Getty archive, so they're not hoaxed: https://www.gettyimages.com/detail/...-ceremony-news-photo/2234175288?adppopup=true

https://www.gettyimages.com/detail/...bservance-news-photo/2234860395?adppopup=true

 

[Dad_SB_83]

Looks like we're in for another around of speculation:

These and similar images are on the Getty archive, so they're not hoaxed: https://www.gettyimages.com/detail/...-ceremony-news-photo/2234175288?adppopup=true

https://www.gettyimages.com/detail/...bservance-news-photo/2234860395?adppopup=true

A Reddit comment said, "It's at half mast out of respect"

In all seriousness, there was an interesting discussion about this because of the video posted by the White House of Trump commenting on Kirk's death... that it's either all AI or heavily edited by AI:

Discussion starts here:


Source: http://reddit.com/r/pics/comments/1nejf7h/the_right_side_of_trumps_face_visibly_drooping/ndp4t5y/


The video in question:


Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-q1N6Akpz9c

 

[Landru]

Looks like we're in for another around of speculation:
View attachment 83902
These and similar images are on the Getty archive, so they're not hoaxed: https://www.gettyimages.com/detail/...-ceremony-news-photo/2234175288?adppopup=true

https://www.gettyimages.com/detail/...bservance-news-photo/2234860395?adppopup=true

Do we really need to report on every unusual physical characteristic Trump displays? Or report on the media's mentions? I don't see the point .

 

[boguesuser]

Do we really need to report on every unusual physical characteristic Trump displays? Or report on the media's mentions? I don't see the point .

Personally, I have nothing better to do.
Jdog beat me to it.

 

[jdog]

Do we really need to report on every unusual physical characteristic Trump displays? Or report on the media's mentions? I don't see the point .

I don't think forum members need to be making medical assessments, but since this thread exists I think it's worth being aware of what's making the rounds. Though I can see this running afoul of the one-claim-per-thread rule and the thread being closed.

 

[Mendel]

Though I can see this running afoul of the one-claim-per-thread rule and the thread being closed.

it's a "current events" thread, not a strict debunking thread

Mick set the topic himself:

So what's going on? An average-health old man and lots of speculation, or a dangerously sick old man and a cover-up? I'm not seeing any good evidence of the latter.

so the "face-drooping" image and attendant speculation is on topic

the thread could still be closed, ofc

 

[JMartJr]

During a Medal of Honor at the White House on Monday, March 2, photos showed what appeared to be a large red rash and scabs on the right side of Trump's neck. The rash spread from behind his ear to the back of his hairline.

White House physician Dr. Sean Barbabella excused the irritation in a statement shared with PEOPLE, saying, "President Trump is using a very common cream on the right side of his neck, which is a preventative skin treatment, prescribed by the White House Doctor."

"The president is using this treatment for one week, and the redness is expected to last for a few weeks," Barbabella added. He did not elaborate on why the cream was prescribed.

https://people.com/donald-trump-neck-rash-11917466

 

[deirdre]

https://people.com/donald-trump-neck-rash-11917466

wow that might be the best pic of his ear wound i ever saw.

surprised it took people so long to see the rash.. he had it at the SOTU speech too. You'd think if it was irritating him he'd loosen his shirt collars up a bit.

 

[JMartJr]

wow that might be the best pic of his ear wound i ever saw.

surprised it took people so long to see the rash.. he had it at the SOTU speech too. You'd think if it was irritating him he'd loosen his shirt collars up a bit.
View attachment 88852

I suspect it has gotten worse and so is more noticeable.

CAVEAT: I am not trying to diagnose the President, I am merely pointing out one type of topical cream that produces similar rashing, which worsens over time then subsides when treatment is over. There may be others, I would be surprised if there were not. My only purpose here to to point out that such ointments exist.

I am thinking of ointment that an acquaintance has had to use on several occasions to treat squamous cell tumors (or pre-tumors, I am not a cancer doctor and don't want to use the wrong word trying to sound like I know more than I do. I will not indicate name or relationship of the person I know who has used such treatment for reasons of privacy.)

The drug most often used in topical treatment of actinic keratoses, as well as some basal and squamous cell skin cancers, is 5-FU (with brand names such as Efudex, Carac, and Fluoroplex). It is typically applied to the skin once or twice a day for several weeks. Sometimes it might be used along with calcipotriol (calcipotriene), a drug related to vitamin D, which could shorten the length of treatment to days instead of weeks.

When put directly on the skin, 5-FU kills tumor cells on or near the skin's surface, but it can't reach cancer cells deeper in the skin or those that have spread to other parts of the body. For this reason, topical 5-FU is generally used only for pre-cancerous conditions such as actinic keratosis and for some very superficial skin cancers (cancers that only affect the surface of the skin).

Because the drug is only applied to the skin, it doesn't spread throughout the body, so it doesn't cause the same side effects as systemic chemotherapy (treatment that affects the whole body). But it does make the treated skin red and very sensitive for a few weeks. Other topical medicines can be used to help relieve this, if needed. 5-FU can also make the skin more sensitive to sunlight, so treated areas must be protected from the sun to prevent sunburn for a few weeks after treatment
...
Tirbanibulin (Klisyri): This chemo drug comes in an ointment that can be used to treat actinic keratoses on the face or scalp. It is usually applied to the skin once a day for 5 days. It's important to avoid getting this drug in or near your eyes or mouth.

The most common side effects of this drug include itching or pain in the treatment area. Some people might have more serious skin reactions, such as severe redness or swelling in the area, flaking, scaling, peeling, or crusting of the skin, blisters, pus, sores, or breakdown of the skin.

(The President's skin in the image I posted seems to demonstrate some crusty/scabby stuff going on -- JM)
source: https://www.cancer.org/cancer/types/basal-and-squamous-cell-skin-cancer/treating/other-than-surgery.html

Again, I am not attempting a diagnosis, and the person I know using the ointments as I described has been dealing with it off and on for some decades, it would not necessarily indicate anything that would impair the President's ability to serve out his term, even IF that was what was going on. I don't know what is going on, other than something clearly is not happy with his skin back there.

 

[deirdre]

I am thinking of ointment that an acquaintance has had to use on several occasions to treat squamous cell tumors

i was thinking that too, especially at his age and the amount of time he spends in the sun. My dad had a little spot on the top of his ear and he was early 70s at the time.

Trump always had a little "mole" right on his collar edge, but not really in the area of the rash.. although based on his [lack of] makeup application skills i dont imagine Trump is too careful with how he slathers the stuff on.

Whatever it is, I dont really think its a big deal either.

 

[Todd Feinman]

From a quick search, I reckon it could be warfarin sodium, or Hygroton 50, or the most concerning of all, a small wintergreen altoid.

It does look bit large for the wintergreen altoid though. I don't have a good size reference for the other pills.

Edit: I supposed it's also possible he got bored and popped a Viagra for the hell of it.

It looks to be an Altoids Arctic Peppermint Mint:

I don't think it was one of these mints:
Trump Impeachmints

 

[Onyx]

(Just to get this out of the way; no, I am not a doctor)

Thought I would bring these up since I've been seeing them recently:


Source: https://x.com/hqnewsnow/status/2113054759070392523?s=46


Source: https://x.com/atrupar/status/2113425022257639593/video/1?s=46


This really doesn't feel normal. Neither of these sound like him misspeaking (the first one especially). Both of these sounded like a noise someone would make when they have some kind of vocal tic with a neurological disorder, like Tourette's Syndrome.
I am not claiming Trump has Tourette's Syndrome, but the claims of him having Frontotemporal dementia might be correct.

Plus, his constant bragging about doing "cognitive tests", which are apparently the Montreal Cognitive Assessment, a test done for Dementia screening. Although, it appears he has been taking these cognitive examinations often, and I am not aware of how often these tests are administered in a normal setting.

The White House is probably doing all it can to obscure the fact that Trump has some form of dementia, thats progressively getting worse.

 

[Mauro]

(Just to get this out of the way; no, I am not a doctor)

Thought I would bring these up since I've been seeing them recently:


Source: https://x.com/hqnewsnow/status/2113054759070392523?s=46


Source: https://x.com/atrupar/status/2113425022257639593/video/1?s=46


This really doesn't feel normal. Neither of these sound like him misspeaking (the first one especially).

Well, the first one is weird indeed. Is it a verified video, I mean, not AI or something? Crazy.

 

[Onyx]

Well, the first one is weird indeed. Is it a verified video, I mean, not AI or something? Crazy.

It appears to be legitimate.
https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/trump-makes-strange-noise-rally/

I doubt the White House will even acknowledge it, or just say "he is fine and healthy, shut up, don't question it."

 

[Todd Feinman]

Sounded kinda… Alien..
Does.. He.. want to…..eat Husted?!

 

[Ann K]

The White House is probably doing all it can to obscure the fact that Trump has some form of dementia, thats progressively getting worse.

My husband died with dementia, so I'm very familiar with some of the symptoms. What I find more telling than the language glitches are the several times recently that he has just wandered off to the point that someone has to go and direct him back again to the proper destination. Some months ago it was somewhere in the far east (China?) where he was supposed to be meeting a number of dignitaries but just wandered past them until someone ran after him and led him. This last week or two, he meandered off the red carpet that led to the helicopter door toward the end of the craft instead, then waved at what appeared to be a non-existent crowd. Another time his aide held the door of his limo open for him, only to see him pass by and head for an open field, where a number of bodyguards ran to catch him and guide him back.

Even in his first administration, there were suggestions that what his children and other were doing to promote his candidacy were "elder abuse".

 

[JMartJr]

This last week or two, he meandered off the red carpet that led to the helicopter door toward the end of the craft instead, then waved at what appeared to be a non-existent crowd.

I have seen another angle of that one where it appeared there were some construction workers (from the ballroom?) over beyond-and-in-front-of the helicopter, and it looked plausible that he might have been waving to them. I'll see if I can find it again.

Edit to add: I recall a visit to Charlotte where he was at, I believe, the NASCAR track and was waving to nobody. At that time, it was argued that he just wanted there to be a shot of him waving on the news that night. But who knows?

 

[Onyx]

What I find more telling than the language glitches are the several times recently that he has just wandered off to the point that someone has to go and direct him back again to the proper destination.

I've noticed that as well, being unable to maintain a straight line while walking, same with randomly slapping his upper thighs, which I've heard can be an indicator of a neurological condition.

I also think I found the moment you are referring to that happened in the Japan.

Source: https://youtu.be/8b-kJT06AXs?is=aiVelV3m_lGw20zv

 

[John J.]

International Business Times remarks on the thigh-slapping,
article "Onlookers Claim Trump's Thigh Slapping Is One of His 'Dementia Related Glitches' on Tarmac Walk", 05 August 2026, Bgie Areña
https://www.ibtimes.co.uk/onlookers...dementia-related-glitches-tarmac-walk-1812579

Thigh Slapping Fuels Donald Trump Health Questions
... As he crossed the tarmac, the President could be seen striking his right thigh with his right hand, a gesture that onlookers say they have now spotted multiple times. The movement, brisk and oddly rhythmic, prompted a spate of comments from users who claimed they had seen him do the same thing at previous events.

'Why does he always do that pat the right leg thing?' one viewer asked.
... Others went further, insisting the gesture looked like a 'dementia related glitch' and calling the president 'a physical mess on every level.'

Again, there is no clinical evidence to back up those wilder claims, and no doctor has publicly linked the thigh‑slapping to any neurological condition. The diagnosis is coming almost entirely from partisans watching short, context‑free clips on social media, which should be taken with a grain of salt.

Repeated compulsive motor behaviors can be a sign of various neurological and psychiatric conditions. Involuntary movements may also be caused by drugs, e.g. tardive dyskinesia associated with antipsychotics (Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tardive_dyskinesia).
I'm not aware of thigh-slapping specifically being an identified neurological sign (compared to, say, pill-rolling tremor or lip-smacking).

Many people have (or have had) habitual behaviors at unguarded moments.
To be honest I'm not persuaded Trump shows compulsive/ involuntary motor signs, he hasn't started slapping his thigh during times when it might be considered particularly inappropriate (e.g. during the rather awkward welcoming ceremony in Japan in post #59).
I don't know what to make of his strange noises in post #53, but he does a fair bit of speaking in public and doesn't appear (to me) to show aphasia or apraxia of speech.

 

[Ann K]

I don't know what to make of his strange noises in post #53, but he does a fair bit of speaking in public and doesn't appear (to me) to show aphasia or apraxia of speech

His awkward speech patterns, strange noises, forgetting simple words, and drifting off into incoherence and then abruptly changing the subject have long been noted. His rally speeches usually run a lot longer than people care to listen to him because he repeats the same complaints over and over, with numbers, percents, and dollar values often growing between tellings. He insists on his own mathematics ("prices have gone down 600%") and misunderstandings ("We are going to be so RICH when we raise tariffs"), are deeply embarrassing from someone who claims to have graduated from Wharton Business School.