Donald Trump is now facing the same kind of scrutiny that Joe Biden endured not long ago — the slow, undeniable creep of age catching up under the harsh lights of public life.
Commentators have begun to point out small but telling signs. His ankles, swollen and bulging above his shoes, aren’t just an unflattering detail. Doctors often say that kind of swelling can signal circulation problems or heart strain, suggesting his body is under pressure.
These aren’t the legs of a man built for stamina, critics argue, but the legs of someone more suited to long afternoons in a recliner than leading the country through global crises.
The comparisons to Biden are hard to miss. Biden’s stumbles, blank stares, and faltering speech were brushed aside until his disastrous debate performance forced the country to confront the obvious: he was too old for the job. Now, many are saying the sequel is playing out with Trump. At 79, he is not just approaching but deep into the age bracket where physical and cognitive decline becomes increasingly difficult to hide.
This past week highlighted those concerns. Trump repeatedly said he was “going to Russia” when in fact his summit with Vladimir Putin was in Alaska. On Air Force One, he rambled about being a “deal guy” who could just move on to other things if peace talks with Putin didn’t work out as if diplomacy were no more serious than walking away from a failed casino.
He’s also started mixing up names: calling Homeland Security head Kristi Noem by the name of a pro golfer, referring to his commerce secretary as if he weren’t standing right in front of him, and confusing other leaders in mid-conversation.
Even his allies seem to know what’s happening. His press team has leaned on familiar excuses, insisting he’s “working hard” and that bruises or slips are just the toll of long days. But his own doctor recently admitted he suffers from chronic venous insufficiency, a condition that can explain his swollen ankles and fatigue.
The presidency is brutal on the body. Obama’s hair went gray, Clinton’s weight swung, Reagan drifted into decline. But Trump is older than all of them were in office. And three years is a long stretch for someone already showing signs of wear.
Biden’s “tells” were his whispery voice, frozen smile, and repeated falls. Trump’s may be his labored gait, the thickening around his neck, and his puffing climb up Air Force One’s stairs. To dismiss these as just quirks or “Trump being Trump” is to repeat the same mistake the press made with Biden.
The bigger question now is whether anyone in Trump’s circle will sound the alarm. Democrats rallied around Biden’s decline only when it became undeniable.
Will Republicans do the same, or will they quietly let things unravel while trying to control events from behind the scenes? History and human nature suggests that taking the keys away from someone slipping into decline is difficult enough when it’s just a car. With Trump, those keys could unleash global consequences.
