The Topline
- Lincoln Project founder Rick Wilson stated that US President Donald Trump “Is Dying” and Vice President JD Vance is “moving fast” to secure power
- Rumours have been circulating with increased frequency about the president’s health, with pictures of swollen ankles , a bruised hand , and reports of confused speech and unsteady balance
- The White House has vehemently denied claims that Trump is ill
He's just a "regular" old guy
Despite the speculation, there’s no credible evidence Trump is terminally ill. Viral online conjecture does not equate medical fact. There’s been speculation about the president’s health since 2016 – not to mention speculation about his downfall again and again – and yet he’s still alive, and back in power.
Trump’s actual disclosed condition, chronic venous insufficiency (CVI), is a common circulatory issue in older adults. It causes swelling, not imminent death. The White House has blamed the bruised hands on Trump’s use of blood thinners and the frequency of handshakes – and given that he is shaking hands all day, every day (maybe the only work he’s actually putting in to the job), it is plausible.
The swollen ankles are very plausibly CVI, which, taken together with the bruised hands, shows he could just be a run-of-the-mill old guy who happens to be an autocratic president.
(It’s notable, of course, that Trump campaigned in 2024 on the idea that his predecessor Joe Biden was too old to serve.)
Politically speaking, Trump and his team would have trouble hiding the fact that he’s terminally ill. Credible news – and not from a Lincoln Project founder – would leak. Washington thrives on gossip, and the Trump administration – at least the version one of it – was famously leaky. This is one of the biggest potential scoops in U.S. politics right now – and in some ways, global politics – and every journalist on the beat will be digging into this.
So what?
The physical evidence, coupled with the White House’s forceful defense of the president’s mental acuity and energy levels, does signal something that Trump is ailing in some capacity. Does this mean he can finish the remainder of his term? Let’s unpack it:
CVI, assuming that’s what it is, is uncomfortable, but not incapacitating and millions of seniors live with it for years. If the bruising is caused by blood thinners, then it’s basically cosmetic, not fatal.
Constitutionally speaking, the bar for being “fit to serve” in the U.S. is very low. Historically, presidents have served in poor health – FDR in a wheelchair, hiding heart disease; JFK on a pharmacy’s worth of painkillers and steroids; Reagan possibly showing early Alzheimer’s in his second term.
In other words, it's business as usual for now.
It’s certainly not looking good
Trump’s allies say he’s fine, but where there’s smoke…
Rumours don’t materialize from nowhere. The fact that “Is Trump dying?” trended means enough people spotted visible changes to feed the viral hype cycle. For a 79-year-old man with a fast-food diet and decades of stress, it’s reasonable to wonder.
Officially, the White House states the swollen ankles are chronic venous insufficiency (CVI), which is common among people his age. However, the swelling can also point to life-threatening cardiovascular problems. Persistent bruising on an elderly man’s hands suggests fragile blood vessels or clotting issues, both of which are red flags.
Some observers, including psychiatrists , have noted irregularities in Trump’s speech, most recently including inventing a fictional governor and getting the name of an ocean wrong , as worrisome signs.
The fact is, Trump is 79 years old, mostly sedentary, with a well-documented penchant for Diet Coke and red meat, along with a family history of dementia.
The median life expectancy for American men is 73. Now, compound that with some of the most stress one person can possibly undertake – a criminal trial, a grueling electoral campaign, decades of lies potentially coming to the fore , never mind being an actual sitting president twice – there’s a strong case here that Trump’s under considerable health pressure, even if the White House vehemently denies it
So what?
Trump is the most powerful figure on the planet right now. He sets and determines policy that has enormous effects across the planet. Very few are insulated from his various trade wars.
If Trump does die before his term is up, and Vance takes over, it could signal a significant shift in foreign policy for how the US deals with its allies and foes. It’s unclear what this would mean for the global trade war — including the tariffs Trump has slapped on Canada.
The big question remains — is Trump’s trade war against Canada just a Trump thing, or is it part of a deeper, broader movement that will remain once he’s gone?
