Trump Accused of ‘Hiding’ Leg Brace: Latest Appearance Triggers New Health Panic

Donald Trump is facing a new wave of scrutiny after a recent public appearance set off fresh chatter about his health — and this time, some of the loudest criticism is coming from people who once stood firmly in his corner.

The latest round of concern erupted after Trump stepped off Air Force One in Phoenix, Arizona, on April 17 and appeared to hold an unusually stiff, wide-legged stance while speaking to reporters on the tarmac. Almost instantly, social media lit up with speculation, with critics and commentators questioning whether the president was showing signs of physical decline.

Trump adopted a strange stance while speaking with reporters on Friday (📸: Getty Images) pic.twitter.com/W6n15QCXec

— Molly Ploofkins (@Mollyploofkins) April 18, 2026

Some online users claimed Trump looked like he was trying to steady himself to avoid falling, while others tossed out theories ranging from mobility issues to the possibility that he was wearing some kind of hidden leg brace. Several posts went even further, with critics suggesting the posture could point to deeper health problems.

The reaction only added fuel to an already growing fire. Trump has faced repeated public discussion about his physical condition in recent weeks, especially after other awkward moments sparked questions about how steady he really is in public appearances.

But the political backlash has gone well beyond social media mockery.

What is turning heads even more is that some of Trump’s former allies and conservative media figures have begun openly questioning his judgment and fitness for office after his recent rhetoric on Iran. Those criticisms have grown so intense that talk of the 25th Amendment — once the kind of idea floated mainly by opponents on the left — is now being pushed by voices that were once aligned with his movement.

Marjorie Taylor Greene, once one of Trump’s most vocal defenders, blasted him after his inflammatory remarks about Iran, calling his language dangerous and unhinged. In a furious post, she invoked the 25th Amendment and suggested his comments crossed a line that could not be ignored.

She later doubled down in a television appearance, arguing that any leader calling for the destruction of an entire civilization should face serious questions about mental stability. While acknowledging that actually removing a president through the 25th Amendment would be politically difficult, she said the conversation itself needs to happen.

Candace Owens also unloaded on Trump, accusing his administration of moral rot and calling for Congress to act. Her comments marked yet another stunning break from a right-wing figure who once moved in pro-Trump circles.

Megyn Kelly joined the pile-on as well, slamming Trump’s behavior and saying she was fed up with what she described as reckless and irresponsible conduct. Kelly, who has often tried to interpret Trump’s political strategy more generously than his critics, said this time she could not defend what she was seeing.

The rare spectacle of prominent conservative voices turning on Trump has only intensified the sense that cracks are widening inside his own coalition. For Democrats and Trump critics, it is a striking development: the warnings about instability are no longer coming only from political opponents, but from former allies who now appear alarmed by both his rhetoric and his public presentation.

Despite the uproar, Trump has continued to insist there is nothing wrong with him. During a Cabinet meeting on March 26, he bragged yet again about his cognitive abilities, saying he had taken a cognitive test three times and aced it every time. He also claimed he was the only president to do so, framing the test as proof that his mental sharpness remains intact.

Still, the latest images and the growing calls from once-loyal supporters are likely to keep the questions swirling. And for a president already dogged by constant controversy, this new storm may be harder to brush off — especially now that some of his own former backers are the ones demanding answers.