Trump, 79, Struggles on Air Force One Stairs After Bombshell Health Confession (Video)

President Donald Trump’s return to Washington, D.C., on Sunday evening wasn’t supposed to make headlines. But a now-viral clip of the 79-year-old commander-in-chief descending the steps of Air Force One has reignited serious concerns about his health—and his fitness to lead during a turbulent global moment.

Trump had just completed a two-week winter retreat at Mar-a-Lago, where he met with international allies and continued plotting what aides are calling “Phase II” of his second-term agenda. But any attempt at projecting strength was undone the moment he stepped off the presidential jet.

The video, which aired live on several networks, shows Trump emerging from the aircraft with visible caution. He gripped the rail with one hand, then quickly reached for the second with a sweeping motion. Viewers noted the way his right leg appeared stiff, almost limp, as he gingerly made his way down to the red-carpeted tarmac.

After descending, the president stopped to salute officers and wave briefly to reporters. But his walk toward Marine One told a different story. Trump veered significantly off course, making a wide arc toward the chopper door while dragging his right leg and pausing repeatedly for breath and small talk.

“He looked disoriented,” one former White House physician told this outlet anonymously. “Not confused, but physically strained. That’s not normal for someone still claiming to be the ‘healthiest president ever elected.’”

Upon reaching the helicopter steps, Trump took another long pause, then slowly climbed aboard. According to a White House pool report, the entire walk from the plane door to the Marine One entrance took nearly three minutes—more than double the usual time.

The moment comes just days after the president surprisingly confirmed a July visit to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, where he was diagnosed with chronic venous insufficiency. The disorder, which impairs blood flow from the legs to the heart, often causes swelling, discomfort, and fatigue.

“I had a little swelling. Just a little,” Trump said in an interview with The Wall Street Journal last week. “They checked it out. Totally manageable. It’s very common. Nothing to worry about.”

Still, medical experts note the disorder can complicate mobility in aging adults—particularly those under intense daily stress.

In September, Trump acknowledged that stairs make him anxious: “Every day, the guy’s falling down stairs,” he said of President Biden. “I walk nice and easy. You don’t have to set any record.”

But critics say Trump is doing just that—setting a new record for deflection.

This isn’t the first time Trump has looked shaky on steps. In December, he was filmed cautiously descending the short staircase at Mar-a-Lago’s main entrance while welcoming Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. At one point, he appeared to hesitate, looking down to judge each step before proceeding.

In another clip from just before Christmas, Trump visibly slapped his right leg three times before stepping down from AF1, further fueling speculation that he’s managing leg discomfort with discreet gestures.

And back in 2020, Trump’s now-infamous ginger walk down a ramp at West Point sparked early speculation that something was amiss with his balance—claims his campaign dismissed as “laughable.”

But now, with the president himself conceding vascular trouble, those early concerns seem prescient.

While Republican allies continue to project strength on Trump’s behalf, murmurs within D.C. have become harder to ignore.

“His movement is slower. His gait is irregular. These are things that, if it were Biden, Fox would be running 24/7,” said Dr. Fiona Granger, a geriatrics specialist at Georgetown. “Chronic venous insufficiency doesn’t disqualify you from public life. But it’s not something you can just shrug off either.”

Democratic lawmakers have remained largely silent so far. But staffers close to Senate leadership say there’s growing unease about whether Trump’s health is becoming a liability—particularly ahead of the 2026 midterms, where control of both chambers is up for grabs.

Trump’s struggle with public perception is compounded by the volatility of a second-term agenda plagued by international showdowns. His controversial order last week to capture Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro has divided global allies, and negotiations over Gaza remain tense.

Yet behind the curtain, insiders say it’s Trump’s physical capacity—not political—raising the most concern.

“He wants to look strong,” said a former aide familiar with the president’s daily schedule. “But he’s exhausted. And the steps? The steps have become a symbol of that.”