Fox News has been halted for an urgent breaking news alert as US president Donald Trump was diagnosed with a medical condition affecting his veins. The sitting president, 79, was suffering from bruising on the backs of his hands and swelling in his legs, raising fears he was suffering from a heart condition.
But now White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt has issued a statement on his diagnosis, which was shared on Fox. She said: “The president underwent a comprehensive examination including diagnostic vascular studies, bilateral lower extremity vent denis Doppler ultrasounds were performed and revealed chronic venous insufficiency, a benign and common condition particularly in individuals over the age of 70.
“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.
“An echocardiogram was also performed and confirmed normal cardiac structure and function; no signs of heart failure, renal impairment or systemic illness were identified.”
Speaking live on Fox while a breaking news alert banner played on-screen, John said: “We see the back of the president’s hand where he’s got some bruising, he looks like he’s got it covered with make-up there.
“I was on a blood thinner when I had atrial fibrillation for a while, doc, and I would bruise in a stiff breeze. For a person his age who’s taking aspirin therapy for his heart, that wouldn’t be unusual, but what do you think of the overall report from the White House here?”
The anchors were joined by medical analyst Marc Siegel, who responded with a dig at former president Joe Biden: “I’m actually impressed with how open it is and how detailed it is, because they actually answered all the questions that I would have had. Maybe a contrast after the previous administration where everything was cloak and dagger.
“Look, she has a lot of details that reassure me. He doesn’t have deep vein thrombosis, he doesn’t have a deep vein there, they checked that. They checked his heart – why are his legs swelling? Could it be backup from the heart? No! His echocardiogram is normal.”
Trump’s diagnosis of chronic venous insufficiency has seen the oldest sitting president suffering from bruising and swelling, though he is said not to be in any discomfort at this time.
The bruises on his hand were said to be “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”.