President Donald Trump’s appearance at Thursday’s Pentagon ceremony commemorating the 24th anniversary of the September 11, 2001 terror attacks has sparked widespread online speculation about his health, with observers noting what they described as facial drooping on the right side of his face.
The 79-year-old President attended the memorial event alongside First Lady Melania Trump at the Pentagon Memorial near Washington, D.C. Videos and photographs from the ceremony circulated widely on social media, prompting viewers to question whether Trump had experienced a stroke or other neurological episode.
Host Ben Meiselas of the MeidasTouch podcast observed that Trump appeared unwell during the ceremony, noting that his face appeared droopy and he seemed disoriented. Social media users posted side-by-side photographs from the event, with comedian Jeremy Kaplowitz writing on X that the President looked like he had suffered a stroke.
Independent journalist Adam Cochran, who has nearly 250,000 followers on X, posted a detailed analysis questioning Trump’s condition. “At what point, are we going to clue in to the President’s stroke?” Cochran wrote, adding that Trump appeared barely able to control the right side of his face while paying respects to those lost on September 11.
Multiple social media users described observing Trump’s mouth drooping to the right side of his face for approximately 30 minutes during the ceremony. Some compared the appearance to symptoms they had witnessed in family members who had experienced strokes. Others suggested Trump appeared to be falling asleep during portions of the memorial service.
According to the American Stroke Association, facial drooping or twisting is consistent with stroke symptoms. During a stroke, blood flow to different parts of the brain can stop, potentially causing one side of a person’s face to droop or twist. The association uses the acronym FAST to help recognize stroke signs: Face drooping, Arm weakness, Speech difficulties, and Time to call emergency services.
The speculation comes amid ongoing concerns about Trump’s health that have persisted throughout his current term. In July 2025, the White House revealed that Trump had been diagnosed with chronic venous insufficiency, a condition that occurs when leg vein valves fail to function properly, causing blood to pool in the lower extremities.
White House physician Sean Barbabella released a memorandum in July explaining that Trump’s diagnosis followed the observation of swelling in his lower legs. Barbabella described chronic venous insufficiency as a benign and common condition affecting individuals over 70 years old. The physician noted mild swelling but found no evidence of deep vein thrombosis or arterial disease.
Earlier health concerns emerged when observers noticed bruising on Trump’s hands, which appeared to be covered with makeup in some photographs and videos. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt attributed the bruising to minor soft tissue irritation caused by frequent handshaking and Trump’s use of low-dose aspirin as part of a standard cardiovascular prevention regimen.
Trump’s physician conducted comprehensive evaluations including blood tests and an echocardiogram to assess his heart health. The results showed normal heart function with no kidney problems or systemic illness. These findings reinforced conclusions from Trump’s annual physical examination conducted in April 2025, which determined he was in excellent health and fit to perform presidential duties.
During the September 11 ceremony, Trump paid tribute to conservative activist Charlie Kirk, who was shot and killed at age 31 at Utah Valley University on September 10. Trump announced he would posthumously award Kirk the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest civilian honor in the United States.
Some online observers claimed that a video Trump posted after Kirk’s death showed signs of digital alteration, possibly using artificial intelligence. These claims suggested the video contained unusual editing cuts that raised questions about its authenticity.
A four-day absence from public appearances in August had previously intensified speculation about Trump’s condition, including unsubstantiated rumors about serious illness or death. Trump himself addressed these rumors, stating he had never felt better in his life and dismissing the speculation as fake news.
The White House has not issued any official statement regarding the latest health speculation following Trump’s September 11 memorial appearance. Press Secretary Leavitt previously emphasized that all medical reports indicate the President remains in excellent health and fully capable of performing his duties.
If Trump completes a potential second term ending in 2029, he would become the oldest serving president in United States history. The recent speculation adds to ongoing public discourse about the health and fitness of aging political leaders.
