“Can hardly finish thoughts”
The president is getting older – and it’s obvious
November 26, 2025 – 9:02 a.mReading time: 3 minutes
Donald Trump’s public appearances raise questions about his health and possible signs of aging. His cognitive state is increasingly being assessed critically.
Donald Trump likes to present himself as a tireless statesman – a president who has more energy than any of his predecessors, who hardly sleeps and, at 79, is still in shape “like a 65-year-old.” But contrary to the staged image of permanent presence, there is increasing evidence of age-related exhaustion and health problems. The oldest US president ever elected to office is aging visibly – and increasingly publicly.
This became particularly clear when he returned from a trip to Asia. Trump attended several public events immediately after his arrival in Washington. At his last appointment in the Oval Office, he was filmed sitting listlessly in his chair, his eyes closing and remaining motionless for a few seconds.
According to an analysis by the New York Times, such phenomena of aging are also noticeable in Trump’s official calendar. On average, Trump’s public appointments don’t start until after noon – significantly later than in his first term in office. The number of official appearances has fallen by around 40 percent. While his international travel has increased, he is no longer seen as frequently domestically.
Trump had also reported medical examinations in recent months, but without publishing detailed information. For example, he mentioned an MRI scan, the results of which were not made public, which fueled public speculation.
Photos of his swollen ankles and bruises on his right hand also raised questions. The White House attributed this to frequent handshaking, the use of blood-thinning medications and chronic venous insufficiency – a common and usually unproblematic diagnosis in older people.
video | Trump’s condition: “This explanation is absurd”
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Trump is also a staunch opponent of physical activity. In his opinion, exercise can “use up” energy reserves. He loves fast food, especially McDonald’s. According to his personal doctor, he has still lost weight: in 2020 he weighed 111 kilograms, which was officially considered obesity given his height; today it is 102 kilograms. It is not known whether he himself uses modern weight loss products such as Ozempic, which he often publicly praises. His doctor, Sean Barbabella, attests that he is in “excellent health” and emphasizes that his laboratory values are excellent.
While he regularly attacks Joe Biden, his predecessor in office, and ridicules him as “sleepy,” criticism of Trump’s own mental state is growing – including from scientific circles. For more than a year, Trump’s public appearances have been increasing in which he strays from the topic, rambles incoherently or makes demonstrably false statements.
