A series of intriguing photos of President Donald Trump has ignited a wave of online speculation this week. Sharp-eyed social media users noticed a peculiar bulge in his pant leg during his appearance at the White House Rose Garden, sparking rumors of a possible hidden medical condition. As these images quickly went viral, they fueled widespread armchair diagnoses and intensified public curiosity about Trump’s health ahead of the high-stakes 2024 election.
The controversy erupted when a user on X (formerly Twitter) shared close-up images revealing what looked like an unusual bulge against Trump’s pant leg. Accompanied by the caption, “What’s going on here?”, the post quickly racked up over 17,000 likes and unleashed a flood of speculation.
Some suggested the 45th president might be wearing a Foley catheter—a medical device used to drain urine into a collection bag strapped to the leg, often prescribed for urinary incontinence. One commenter even linked the alleged device to possible signs of late-stage frontotemporal dementia, pointing to symptoms like bladder issues, impulsive behavior, and personality changes.
Others offered a different perspective, suggesting the visible outline could be a brace—possibly to support a condition called “drop foot,” which occurs when nerve damage makes it difficult to lift the front part of the foot. “If he’s had a neurological event, this all adds up,” one user remarked.
The online buzz didn’t stop there. Over the weekend, Trump appeared at a UFC event in New Jersey, where new photos sparked fresh speculation about a similar protrusion. Some even poked fun at the alleged tubing, comparing the sound it made as he moved to a “sloshing Capri Sun.”
Amid all the online speculation, one crucial fact is being overlooked: President Trump recently received a clean bill of health.
Earlier this year, Captain Sean Barbabella, Trump’s personal physician, confirmed that the president successfully completed a comprehensive five-hour physical exam at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center. The thorough evaluation included blood work, cardiac screening, and a neurological test—the Montreal Cognitive Assessment—on which Trump reportedly achieved a flawless score of 30 out of 30. At the time, Dr. Barbabella emphasized that Trump was in excellent mental and physical condition.
In recent weeks, Trump has kept a busy public schedule. After a weekend at Camp David, he returned to Washington, where he was seen confidently inspecting construction work on the White House lawn—standing firmly on a wooden plank laid across the grass as he chatted with workers.
While critics and social media sleuths pore over every wrinkle in his suit and every photo angle, Trump’s official medical records and his vigorous campaign appearances paint a far less dramatic picture.