Full Breakdown
President Donald Trump’s CVI Visible at September 11 Pentagon Ceremony
By Drooid · · How we work
Event Appearance
On September 11, President Donald Trump, age 80, attended the Pentagon’s remembrance ceremony alongside First Lady Melania Trump. Photographers noted that his ankles appeared swollen, a condition that made his “cankles” clearly visible. Observers described the president as slouching and appearing to struggle to stay awake during the event, which was the only ceremony he attended while other living presidents and spouses gathered in New York City.
Chronic Venous Insufficiency and Prior Visibility
The swelling is associated with chronic venous insufficiency (CVI), a circulatory disorder common in older adults that hampers blood return from the lower extremities. The White House disclosed Trump’s CVI in July, and the condition was previously evident in June when he attended the G7 Summit in France. Trump has managed the ailment without compression socks, stating in a January interview with *The Wall Street Journal* that he tried them but “didn’t like them,” opting instead to avoid prolonged sitting.
President’s Management Remarks
Trump has indicated that he uses golf as exercise but often relies on a cart, a detail highlighted in the coverage. He also reported that he attempts to limit long periods of sitting to mitigate symptoms. No official medical report was released beyond the White House’s acknowledgment of the condition.
White House Response
The administration did not comment on the specific observations made at the ceremony.
Aftermath
Following the ceremony, Trump departed Washington, D.C., for Ireland, where he is scheduled to spend the weekend. The Daily Beast’s coverage frames these observations within a broader pattern of health-related commentary on the president, noting prior reports of bruised hands, a neck rash, slurred speech, and episodes of apparent drowsiness during meetings.