President Donald Trump criticized Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker’s physical fitness during an Oval Office meeting on Monday, August 25, 2025, while Trump himself faces mounting scrutiny over his own health conditions, including swollen ankles and bruised hands that require makeup coverage.
Trump, who reportedly weighs 224 pounds and has been diagnosed with chronic venous insufficiency causing visible ankle swelling, targeted Pritzker as his administration threatens to deploy National Guard troops beyond Washington, D.C. to other Democratic-run cities, including Chicago. Trump expressed frustration with Pritzker, stating “He ought to spend more time at the gym, actually.”
The president’s comments came as his crime crackdown in the nation’s capital continued, with armed National Guard troops patrolling Washington, D.C. streets alongside police and federal law enforcement officials. Pritzker had accused Trump of attempting to manufacture a crisis and abuse his power to distract from economic hardships affecting working families.
This marks the second time Trump has publicly commented on Pritzker’s weight. Earlier in August, Trump suggested the Illinois governor might have presidential ambitions for 2028, noting that Pritzker had lost weight. Pritzker responded on social media, thanking Trump for the compliment while challenging his authority to take over Chicago and asking about the Epstein files.
Meanwhile, Trump’s own health has become a subject of intense media scrutiny and social speculation. The 79-year-old president has been observed with chronically swollen ankles, a condition White House physicians attribute to chronic venous insufficiency, which affects blood circulation back to the heart. Medical experts note this condition is common in men over 70, but can be exacerbated by a poor diet.
Recent photographs show Trump’s hands with significant bruising that appears to have been covered with makeup in a notably sloppy manner. White House officials explain the bruising results from Trump’s use of aspirin to reduce heart trouble risks, given his history of high cholesterol, with the discoloration worsened by his vigorous handshaking style.
Trump’s reported weight has fluctuated significantly in official records. His April 2025 physical listed him at six feet three inches and 224 pounds. However, previous booking documents from April 2023 recorded him at six feet two inches and 240 pounds, while July 2023 records showed him at six feet three inches and 215 pounds, suggesting he grew an inch and lost 25 pounds within three months.
The president has increasingly modified his White House schedule to accommodate physical limitations. Sources familiar with event planning indicate Trump now prefers holding meetings in the Oval Office rather than larger spaces like the East Room, partly to avoid prolonged standing periods.
During Trump’s August 15 summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska, photographers captured images showing his swollen ankles prominently displayed during the three-hour meeting. The White House has attempted to strategically position objects in official photographs to obscure views of Trump’s ankle area, including using an Air Force One model during his meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on August 18.
Television hosts have mocked both Trump’s health issues and his attempts to conceal them. MSNBC host Lawrence O’Donnell noted how Trump strategically positions himself behind the Resolute Desk during meetings to hide his swollen ankles from view, describing this as Trump’s “perfect place to hide those ankles.”
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt has deflected questions about Trump’s health, stating reporters can observe the president’s daily activities. When asked about making Trump’s physician available for questions, Leavitt indicated she would explore the possibility in the interest of transparency, claiming the administration has “nothing to hide.” However, no such medical press conference has been scheduled.
The health speculation intensified during Trump’s recent period of reduced public appearances, leading to trending hashtags on social media questioning his whereabouts. Even Minnesota Governor Tim Walz appeared to reference the rumors during a Labor Day event on September 2, suggesting people had been expecting news. Trump addressed these rumors on September 3, dismissing them as baseless while acknowledging he had seen the online speculation.
The Illinois governor has shown a willingness to engage in the weight-related political discourse, previously appearing on Jimmy Kimmel’s show, where he recited humorous nicknames staff had created referencing his size. Pritzker has also used campaign slogans like “Think Big” that acknowledge his physical stature while turning it into a political asset.