HOT TOPICS | Donald Trump is Sicker Than You Think! - January 2nd, 2026

Reports from the Wall Street Journal, Axios, Daily Beast, and HuffPost detail several health issues for Donald Trump, who is 79 and will turn 80 in June. These include swelling in his legs (chronic venous insufficiency), easy bruising requiring makeup, poor sleep, difficulty hearing in crowded rooms, and being caught nodding off. Crucially, he reportedly takes 325mg of aspirin daily against doctor's advice (who recommend a lower dose) due to superstition, admitting it causes bruising. He also tried and stopped wearing compression socks for leg swelling and expressed regret over a CT scan (which he initially misidentified as an MRI) because it 'made people ask questions.'

Trump describes swelling in his legs, bruises easily, covers hands with makeup, doesn't sleep well, strains to hear, and has been caught nodding off. He takes 325mg aspirin daily against doctor's advice, is superstitious about it, and admits it causes bruising. He stopped wearing compression socks because he didn't like them. He regretted a CT scan because it 'made people ask questions.'

Dr. Freda, a triple board-certified medical expert, emphasizes the significant risks of taking 325mg of aspirin daily, especially for someone nearing 80, without a history of heart attack or stroke. Current guidelines advise against high-dose aspirin for primary prevention in older adults due to increased bleeding risk, which can lead to severe complications like head trauma from falls, bleeding ulcers, or diverticulitis. Trump's reported easy bleeding from a minor nick by Pam Bondi's ring is a direct consequence of aspirin's anti-platelet effect. His denial of medical advice and claims of 'perfect health' are medically unsound and raise concerns about transparency.

Dr. Freda states that for people over 70, the risk of bleeding from aspirin outweighs the benefit for primary prevention, especially at 325mg. She notes that easy bleeding from a ring nick indicates problematic blood thinning. She also highlights that doctors don't order CT angiograms 'out of the blue,' suggesting underlying symptoms like chest pain or shortness of breath.

At midnight on January 1st, healthcare subsidies expired, directly impacting 20 million Americans. This will lead to an average premium increase of 114%, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation. For many, like the retired couple featured, monthly premiums will skyrocket from hundreds to thousands of dollars, making healthcare unaffordable. This forces difficult choices, such as delaying care, skipping appointments, or rationing medication, and disproportionately affects working Americans, small business owners, and farmers, with three-quarters of those affected living in states Trump won in 2024.

Healthcare subsidies expired at midnight, affecting 20 million Americans. The Kaiser Family Foundation reports an average premium increase of 114%. A couple's premium increased from $443 to $2,224/month. Three-quarters of those enrolled in ACA live in states Trump won.

Don Lemon meticulously chronicles over a dozen instances from 2016 to 2024 where Donald Trump and Republicans promised a 'much better,' 'terrific,' 'phenomenal,' or 'fantastic' healthcare plan to replace Obamacare, often with specific timelines (e.g., 'next four weeks,' 'within two months,' 'within two weeks'). In every instance, no such plan materialized. This pattern of unfulfilled promises highlights a fundamental lack of a viable alternative despite years of rhetoric, leaving millions without stable healthcare solutions.

Lemon lists specific dates and quotes from Trump promising a new healthcare plan (e.g., Feb 2016, Feb 2017, May 2018, May 2019, June 2019, July 2020, Aug 2020, Sept 2020, Sept 2024, Dec 2024), none of which ever materialized.