A viral video making dramatic claims about President Donald Trump’s health has set off widespread speculation online. The video alleges that Trump is suffering from congestive heart failure and chronic kidney disease and predicts he could have only six to eight months left to live.
The video originated last week on TikTok and has since amassed more than 5.9 million views. The creator, a self-identified physical therapist with a doctorate, pointed to visible symptoms such as swelling in Trump’s ankles and bruising on his hand as evidence of serious health decline. The TikTok user stated:
“The reason I know he has congestive heart failure is because of the swelling in his feet and ankles. The reason I know it’s getting worse is because he’s sitting behind a desk on camera now.”
He went on to suggest: “The only reason his health has been maintained at all is because he has the privilege of getting IV diuretics … that’s why his hands have been bruised and covered with makeup.”
Concluding the video, he predicted: “I think he’s going to be around for six to eight months, tops.”
This dramatic forecast has since spread across multiple platforms, including Reddit, X, Bluesky, and YouTube. A related YouTube video has garnered over 1.3 million views, with some users explicitly claiming that a “doctor” warned of Trump’s limited life expectancy.
However, the TikTok user clarified that he is not a medical doctor. In an earlier video from May 2025, he explained:
“I have a doctorate in the medical field. I’m a physical therapist. I completed my training, even paid off my student loans, if you can believe that one. I don’t have people refer to me as doctor though, because it could confuse patients into thinking I’m an M.D. Because I respect the position of physicians enough to not lie about that.”
In a statement to Snopes, he elaborated on his background and reasoning:
“I’m a physical therapist with a doctorate in my field, 14 years experience in geriatric/home healthcare. I’ve seen hundreds of patients with CHF, CKD, and chronic venous insufficiency. The president displays many of the same symptoms as those patients. While a full cardiology/nephrology work up is the only way to 100% confirm these diagnoses, I stand by what I’ve inferred from how he presents on camera.”
It remains unclear whether the predictions and medical claims are based on direct knowledge of Trump’s medical records or solely on observations of his public appearances.
The White House has addressed some of the physical symptoms cited in the video. At a July 17, 2025 press conference, Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed that Trump has chronic venous insufficiency, describing it as: “A benign and common condition, particularly in individuals over the age of 70.”
She added details about recent medical testing: “Importantly, there was no evidence of deep vein thrombosis or arterial disease. Laboratory testing included a complete blood count, comprehensive metabolic panel, coagulation profile, D-dimer, B-type natriuretic peptide, and cardiac biomarkers. All results were within normal limits.”
Leavitt also noted: “An echocardiogram was also performed and confirmed normal cardiac structure and function. No signs of heart failure, renal impairment, or systemic illness were identified.”
Physician to the President Sean Barbabella released a memorandum on the same day, concluding that Trump remained in “Excellent health.”
Regarding the bruising on Trump’s right hand, the memorandum offered an explanation that diverged from the claims made in the viral video.
“The bruising is consistent with minor soft tissue irritation from frequent handshaking and the use of aspirin, which is taken as part of a standard cardiovascular prevention regimen. This is a well-known and benign side effect of aspirin therapy.”
Photos of Trump throughout 2025 show the bruising remains visible, but the White House maintains the explanation given.
The video and subsequent online discussion have fueled intense debate about the president’s health, with many weighing the physical signs visible in public appearances alongside the official statements.
