Trump’s 'Cankles' Take Center Stage With World Leaders in Davos

The Inquisitr

As President Trump dominated the headlines at the World Economic Forum in Davos on January 21–22, 2026, his physical appearance became a secondary point of intense speculation. While he used the stage to launch his "Board of Peace" and escalate his push for Greenland, world leaders and online observers were quick to point out visible signs of physical strain.  The "Swollen Ankles" Controversy The chatter began during the President's special address on Wednesday, where several "front-row" observers and photographers noted significant swelling around his ankles.  The Look: Photographs from the event showed the President’s pant legs riding up as he sat, revealing what observers described as "conspicuous" and "alarming" swelling.  Historical Context: This is not a new concern; the White House officially confirmed in July 2025 that the President had been diagnosed with chronic venous insufficiency (CVI).  The Treatment: In a January 1, 2026, interview, Trump admitted he had briefly tried wearing compression socks to manage the swelling but stopped because he "didn't like them".  The "Bruised Hands" at the Signing Speculation intensified on Thursday, January 22, during the formal signing ceremony for the Board of Peace charter.  Visible Discoloration: High-resolution images of the signing showed large, purple-blue bruises on the back of the President’s hands, most notably his left.  The Official Explanation: Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt dismissed the latest marks as the result of a "minor accident" involving a table corner. However, the White House Medical Unit has previously stated that the President is prone to such bruising due to his daily 325mg aspirin regimen and frequent handshaking.  Leader Reactions and "The Golen Dome" The physical observations occurred alongside reports of world leaders feeling "exhausted" by the President's behavior during the summit.  The "Iceland" Gaffe: The "mental fitness" debate was further fueled by Trump repeatedly calling Greenland "Iceland" during his keynote, leading to what some analysts described as "audible snickering" from European delegations.  Medical Speculation: The combination of the "shuffling gait" seen at Joint Base Andrews earlier in the week and the physical symptoms at Davos has led some critics, including former press secretary Stephanie Grisham, to suggest the President is "mentally and physically slipping".  #TrumpHealth #TrumpDavos2026 #SwollenAnkles #BoardOfPeace #DonaldTrump #Davos2026 #WorldEconomicForum #TrumpBruises #ChronicVenousInsufficiency #TrumpMedical #BreakingNews #PoliticsNews #USPolitics #TrumpGaffes #WhiteHouseMedical #KarolineLeavitt #GreenlandSaga #IcelandGaffe #TrumpPhysical #TrendingNews #ViralPolitics #DailymotionSEO #VideoDescription #NewsUpdate #TrumpFitness #DavosHighlights

Transcript

00:00President Donald Trump drew attention during meetings with world leaders this week after

00:03visible swelling in his ankles was seen as he attended the World Economic Forum in Davos,

00:08Switzerland.

00:09The 79-year-old president met with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte on Wednesday while holding

00:14talks related to easing tensions over his earlier statements about Greenland.

00:18As Trump sat with Rutte and members of his cabinet, photographs showed his pant legs

00:22riding up, revealing noticeably enlarged ankles extending over the tops of his shoes.

00:26The swelling was especially apparent in images where Trump was seated alongside other officials,

00:31including Secretary of State Marco Rubio, whose ankles appeared significantly slimmer by comparison.

00:36Trump's appearance remained consistent as he took part in additional meetings at the

00:39Forum, including discussions with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and Swiss President

00:44Guy Parmalin, as well as appearances on the World Economic Forum stage.

00:49The White House previously announced in July that Trump had been diagnosed with chronic

00:53venous insufficiency, a condition common among older adults in which blood circulation issues

00:57cause swelling in the legs.

01:00The swelling may have been worsened by travel complications earlier in the week.

01:04Air Force One was forced to return to Washington, D.C. on Tuesday night due to an electrical issue,

01:10delaying Trump's departure by several hours.

01:13He ultimately arrived in Switzerland after midnight, extending his total travel time.

01:17Trump has previously said he does not wear compression socks during flights, telling the Wall

01:21Street Journal that he stopped using them because he did not like them.

01:24He also said he tries to stand and walk more frequently, as recommended by doctors, though

01:28he has described most exercise beyond golf as unappealing.

01:32Trump and his aides told the Journal that the swelling in his legs had improved.

01:36However, photographs from Davos appeared similar to images taken last year that also showed

01:40ankle swelling.

01:42Trump, the oldest person ever inaugurated as president, has also previously displayed bruising

01:46on his hands, which the White House attributed to frequent handshaking and aspirin use for cardiac

01:51prevention.

01:52Drop your thoughts in the comments and don't forget to like for more breaking political

01:56news.

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