President Donald Trump’s arrival in Japan on Monday, October 27, 2025, has intensified concerns about the 79-year-old’s physical condition as footage captured his cautious descent from Air Force One at Haneda Airport in Tokyo. The president moved slowly down the aircraft stairs, eyes fixed downward, gripping the handrail tightly with measured, heel-to-toe steps.
Trump arrived in Japan as part of a broader Asia tour, flying in from Malaysia. Video footage from both his plane arrival and subsequent meeting with Japan’s Emperor Naruhito, 65, has fueled speculation about his health status. Later recordings showed the president walking gingerly from his limousine to greet the emperor, and upon leaving the meeting, Trump appeared to drag his right leg while favoring his left side.
The heightened scrutiny followed Trump’s unexpected revelation during the flight from Malaysia that he had undergone an MRI scan during what was described as a routine medical checkup earlier in October. The White House confirmed the visit to Walter Reed occurred on October 10, but officials have not released a full physician’s note beyond a summary nor explained why the imaging test was necessary.
Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt had previously declined to specify which tests were performed during the checkup while characterizing Trump’s health as excellent. White House Deputy Press Secretary Anna Kelly defended the president’s condition, stating he maintains incredible shape as a champion-level golfer and demonstrates unmatched stamina during his multi-leg trip to Asia.
Trump himself addressed his approach to navigating stairs during conversations with Marines earlier this month. According to Trump, “extra care” going down steps is necessary, describing a need for slow, deliberate steps rather than bopping down the stairs.
Medical observations have noted several ongoing concerns. For months, the president has displayed a recurring bruise on his hand, which he often covers with makeup, along with visibly swollen ankles. Doctors have diagnosed him with chronic venous insufficiency, a condition where damaged veins slow blood flow back to the heart.
Medical experts interviewed on The Daily Beast Podcast pointed to memory lapses and disorganized speech as potential warning signs of cognitive decline, though the White House disputes this characterization and maintains Trump remains fit to serve.
The Asia tour represents a significant foreign policy undertaking for Trump, who has made ending international conflicts a central focus of his administration. Following a fragile ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas, Trump indicated his priority has shifted to resolving Russia’s war on Ukraine. He expressed confidence that progress made in the Middle East could provide momentum for ending the European conflict.
Trump has signaled willingness to provide Ukraine with long-range Tomahawk cruise missiles if Russian President Vladimir Putin refuses to engage in peace negotiations. The missiles, with a range of approximately 1,600 kilometers, would allow Ukraine to strike deep into Russian territory. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has long sought these weapons, arguing they would help pressure Russia into talks.
The Trump administration has faced mounting challenges both domestically and internationally. In August, Trump fired the head of the Bureau of Labor Statistics following a weaker-than-expected jobs report, accusing the official of political manipulation despite the agency’s long-standing reputation for nonpartisan data collection.
Critics argued the firing represented an attack on neutral arbiters and objective information sources. The move drew comparisons to authoritarian regimes where honest information cannot reach executive leadership, creating environments of distorted data.
Trump’s tariff policies have also generated controversy. After the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit ruled in late summer that the bulk of his tariffs were illegal, Trump filed an emergency petition with the Supreme Court. He claimed that rejection of his tariff authority would destroy the United States, despite legal experts noting the weakness of his constitutional arguments.
The administration’s use of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act to impose tariffs has faced criticism for overreaching executive authority. Yale University modeling estimated Trump’s tariffs would cost the average American household $2,400 annually, result in 500,000 lost jobs by year’s end, and shrink the economy by approximately $125 billion annually.
As Trump continues his diplomatic tour through Asia, attention remains focused on both his policy objectives and physical stamina. The careful navigation of Air Force One stairs has become symbolic of broader questions about the president’s capacity to maintain the demanding schedule of international diplomacy and domestic governance.