Donald Trump is set to return to hospital for the third time in just over a year, with growing public scrutiny surrounding the President’s health and fitness for office.
According to reports, the 79-year-old will visit Walter Reed National Military Medical Center on Tuesday for a medical and dental check-up.
The upcoming appointment follows previous visits in April 2025 for his annual physical exam and again in October for what the White House described as a "scheduled follow-up".
© AFP via Getty ImagesThe latest hospital trip comes amid mounting speculation about the President’s wellbeing after visible bruising and red marks were repeatedly spotted on his hands and neck during recent public appearances.
Questions have also intensified following appearances in which Trump’s ankles appeared swollen, while critics have pointed to moments where he seemed to close his eyes during meetings and public events.
© AFP via Getty ImagesThe President has consistently denied any health concerns and has insisted he remains in "excellent health", previously claiming he feels better than he did three decades ago.
Last year, however, Trump was diagnosed with chronic venous insufficiency, a common vein condition that can lead to swelling in the legs and ankles.
He has also attributed bruising on his hands to taking daily aspirin, which can increase bruising and bleeding risk, particularly in older adults.
© Getty ImagesMental fitness has also become a growing talking point surrounding the President. A recent Washington Post-ABC News-Ipsos poll found that just 40 per cent of Americans believe Trump has the mental sharpness required to serve as president, down from 47 per cent in September. Meanwhile, only 44 per cent believe he is physically fit for office.
The issue carries particular weight given Trump frequently made former President Joe Biden’s mental acuity a central focus during the 2024 election campaign.
Former White House physicians have also publicly called for greater transparency around the President’s medical condition.
© Getty Images"This White House just doesn't seem to want to acknowledge any physical ailment, but older people develop medical issues, and the President is almost 80 years old," Jonathan Reiner, former cardiologist to Vice President Dick Cheney, told the Washington Post. "There just seems to be a lack of candor from the White House."
Jeffrey Kuhlman, who previously served as physician to Presidents Bill Clinton, George W. Bush and Barack Obama, echoed similar concerns. "After a decade of delusion, deceit, denial or delay from the administrations and White House physicians regarding presidential evaluations, my expectation bar is pretty low," he said. "I hope they are at least transparent and truthful."
Trump has previously boasted about achieving "strong" cognitive scores during mental assessments, although the detailed results have not been made public.
While presidents are not legally required to release their medical records, bipartisan calls have reportedly grown louder in recent months for an independent commission to evaluate the health of sitting presidents.
© Getty ImagesThe scrutiny surrounding Trump’s condition has also fuelled widespread online speculation, forcing the White House to repeatedly deny rumours about emergency hospitalisations and secret health scares.
One particularly viral rumour in April claimed Trump had been rushed to Walter Reed, prompting an unusually forceful response from the administration, which insisted he had instead been overseeing search-and-rescue operations in Iran from the Oval Office and Situation Room.
Trump’s allies have also pushed back strongly against criticism surrounding his health. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. recently claimed on a podcast that television personality Mehmet Oz had reviewed Trump’s medical records and described him as having "the highest testosterone level" he had ever seen in a man over 70.
