A former White House doctor said one moment raised concerns that President Trump ‘needs to be evaluated.’
Doctor Jonathan Reiner has urged Congress to order an immediate health review of the President following a series of concerns in recent months.
The expert has shared footage which he believes needs to be ‘evaluated’ immediately by the President’s medical team.
Trump compares his ‘perfect’ health to former president
Donald Trump, who once described himself as the ‘healthiest president that’s ever lived,’ continues to compare his ‘perfect’ health to that of former president Joe Biden, who is currently battling cancer.
In a controversial move late last year, Trump replaced the Biden’s presidential portrait in the White House with an image of an autopen.
Beneath the portrait now reads: “Sleepy Joe Biden was, by far, the worst President in American history.
“Taking office as a result of the most corrupt election ever seen in the US.”
Yet many people have their concerns about Trump’s health, too.
Donald Trump health concerns
Rumors of Trump’s ill health have been circulating in the press and on social media for some time, particularly after he became the oldest sitting US President in American history in January 2025.
Speculation reached its peak in September, when the 79-year-old appeared to be missing for several days, having not attended meetings or conferences.
The rumors even resulted in Trump taking to his social media platform, Truth Social, to say: “NEVER FELT BETTER IN MY LIFE.”
However, this didn’t stop the health concerns from swirling.
Late last year, speculation heightened once again when people allegedly spotted a ‘mysterious lump‘ on the President’s body.
At the time, people questioned whether the 79-year-old was wearing a left ventricular assist device, which is an implantable pump that helps the heart move blood around the body – but this is extremely unlikely; the device requires open heart surgery.
Then, in December 2025, a bruise on the President’s left hand revived questions about his health.
Across a series of events, the 79-year-old was spotted with what appeared to be discoloration or light bruising on the back of his left hand – this comes after he’s been spotted with bruises seemingly on his right hand.
When questioned on the matter, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt simply said (per CNN): “President Trump is a man of the people and he meets more Americans and shakes their hands on a daily basis than any other President in history.”
MRI scan
In late October 2025, the President said he had an MRI at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center.
“I got an MRI. It was perfect,” he said at the time. “I mean, I gave you the full results. We had an MRI and the machine, you know, the whole thing, and it was perfect.”
Trump said he had an MRI, though later reports said it was a CT scan, as per Forbes. This is a test that takes detailed pictures of the inside of your body.
Trump’s doctor, Sean Barbarella, told the Wall Street Journal it was performed to ‘definitively rule out any cardiovascular issues.’
Dr. Barbarella also spoke to ABC News, stating the President remains ‘in exceptional health and perfectly suited to execute his duties as Commander in Chief.’
While the White House has stated the President is in good health, they did confirm in July of last year that Trump had been diagnosed with a chronic health condition.
Trump’s health diagnosis
Press Secretary Leavitt said the 79-year-old had been experiencing swelling in his legs, as reported by the BBC.
A ‘comprehensive exam,’ including vascular testing, was conducted.
It was determined that the President has chronic venous insufficiency, a condition where the leg veins struggle to send blood back to the heart due to faulty valves, resulting in blood to pool.
Leavitt explained that Trump’s bruised hands, as noted by the public, were consistent with ’tissue damage from frequent hand shaking’ while taking aspirin, which she said is ‘part of a standard cardio-vascular prevention regimen.’
However, as mentioned previously, the press secretary gave a vaguer response regarding more recent attention on the President’s seemingly bruised hand.
But this isn’t what the former White House doctor has expressed concern over.
White House doctor speaks out
Dr. Reiner, who once served as the cardiologist to the late Vice President Dick Cheney, is now the medical analyst for CNN.
He recently shared a video on X, formerly Twitter, that he believes suggests Trump should undergo a new medical evaluation.
The Oval Office moment shows the President appearing to close his eyes for an extended period while surrounded by officials, aides, and guests.
“The president seems to be struggling with excessive daytime somnolence,” Dr. Reiner speculated.
He added: “Repeatedly falling asleep with a dozen people surrounding your desk is not normal.
“It needs to be evaluated.”
This isn’t the only time Dr. Reiner has raised concerns over President Trump’s health.
Previously, he’s criticized the 79-year-old for taking higher doses of aspirin than recommended, reports CNN.
The President said: “They say aspirin is good for thinning out the blood, and I don’t want thick blood pouring through my heart.”
The doctor also expressed concern after Trump appeared ‘unwell’ during a speech, citing his tone and ‘manic’ pacing.
“I’m seriously concerned about the health of the president,” he commented at the time. “No one should be happy to see the president like this. He looks unwell.”
