White House officials are pushing back against a theory raised by a medical professor who suggested President Donald Trump may have experienced a stroke in 2025.
Professor Bruce Davidson of Washington State University’s Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine told hosts Sidney Blumenthal and Sean Wilentz on the podcast The Court of History that he suspects the president suffered a left-hemisphere stroke based on physical changes he has observed.
“I believe the stroke was on the left side of the brain, which affects the right side of the body,” Davidson said, pointing to what he described as noticeable shifts in Trump’s appearance and movement.
Among the signs Davidson cited were video footage showing Trump shuffling his feet, a contrast to earlier clips of him walking with confidence on golf courses. He also noted moments when Trump held his right hand with his left and instances of slurred speech in early 2025, though he acknowledged Trump’s articulation appears to have improved more recently.
Davidson pointed to what he characterized as hypersomnolence, or excessive daytime drowsiness, commonly seen in stroke patients. The president has been observed appearing to nod off during public events. The professor also referenced footage of Trump gripping the Air Force One staircase banister with his left hand despite being right-handed, which he suggested could indicate left-hemisphere brain impairment.
If his theory is accurate, Davidson said, Trump seems to have recovered substantially, though he did not specify which type of stroke he believes may have occurred.
Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt forcefully rejected Davidson’s assessment. She insisted the president is in excellent health and described the professor as a left-wing extremist. She called the claims “absolute nonsense” and dismissed them as politically motivated attacks.
Leavitt emphasized Trump’s energy and accessibility to the public, contrasting his condition with health concerns that surrounded former President Joe Biden. She accused the media of spreading false narratives during a period when trust in journalism is at historic lows.
Health concerns about Trump have circulated for months. The president has frequently appeared with pronounced bruising on his hands, which he has tried to conceal with makeup. Discoloration was visible through makeup during a meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron in February 2025. Leavitt attributed the bruises to frequent handshakes and daily aspirin use, describing Trump as a man of the people who interacts with more Americans than any president before him.
During a briefing, Dr. Sean Barbabella explained that the bruising was consistent with mild soft tissue irritation caused by frequent handshaking combined with aspirin use as part of standard cardiovascular care. That same month, the White House confirmed Trump had been diagnosed with chronic venous insufficiency, which has caused leg swelling. To address the problem, he wears compression socks and has admitted taking more aspirin than his doctors recommend.
Chronic venous insufficiency develops when leg veins fail to move blood efficiently back to the heart, leading to swelling, discomfort, and noticeable changes in the legs. Though typically not life-threatening, the condition is common in older adults and may signal broader cardiovascular problems if untreated.
Trump’s acknowledgment that he exceeds recommended aspirin doses also raises medical concerns. While low-dose aspirin is regularly prescribed for heart health, excessive use can heighten the risk of bleeding and bruising—possibly explaining the visible marks that have drawn public attention.
In January 2026, Trump spoke with The Wall Street Journal about several health matters, including his aspirin use for heart protection. He also clarified confusion about advanced imaging that followed his annual physical, explaining that he underwent a CT scan—not the previously reported MRI—to rule out cardiovascular issues. Barbabella stated that the scan showed no abnormalities.
Trump said he regretted undergoing the imaging because it sparked additional speculation about his condition. The medical evaluation occurred in October 2025 at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, with a follow-up note confirming the evaluation, though it offered few specifics.
Trump appeared with one side of his face looking droopy, prompting social media speculation about a possible stroke, though no diagnosis was confirmed. Facial drooping can occur when blood flow to part of the brain is obstructed, affecting muscle tone on one side.
Photographers captured a bright red rash extending from behind Trump’s right ear down his neck during a Medal of Honor ceremony. A review of photos showed the irritation beginning around mid-February, becoming clearly visible by late February at a Black History Month event, and worsening through the State of the Union and a Texas rally. Barbabella said the rash was caused by a prescribed skin cream used as a preventative skin treatment, noting the redness could persist for several weeks, though some medical experts questioned the White House’s limited explanation, especially since Barbabella declined to specify the underlying condition.
Some observers speculated that the rash might be a reaction to anti–skin cancer medications like Fluorouracil, commonly known as 5-FU.
Davidson suggested that some of Trump’s second-term behavior might fit patterns seen in stroke survivors. He noted that strokes are serious, life-threatening events that can lead to a range of emotional and psychological responses.
“Some people develop humility and gratitude. Others experience euphoria—’I nearly died and now I’m back,'” Davidson said. “And some think, ‘I survived this once, so now I’m going to do everything I’ve ever wanted because the next one might be fatal.'”
The health of aging political leaders has long been a topic of concern in the U.S. Biden was 82 years and seven months old when he left office, frequently facing questions about his mental and physical capacity. Should Trump complete his current term, he will reach the same age, becoming the oldest president in American history.
Despite the White House’s explanations, public questions about Trump’s health continue. The limited release of medical records and Trump’s contradictory statements about his imaging procedures have intensified scrutiny. The initial MRI report, later corrected to a CT scan, raised further concerns about transparency.
Davidson’s remarks—acknowledged as speculative due to lack of access to Trump’s medical files—add to the ongoing discussion of the president’s health. Visible signs such as bruising, swollen ankles, and apparent fatigue at public events have been noted by various media outlets for months.
As Trump nears his 80th birthday in June, each new visible symptom continues to fuel a debate that the White House has so far avoided addressing with full transparency.