Donald Trump: Observers concerned as ex-President appears to drag his leg in new video

Donald Trump has been at the centre of many dramas, mostly involving his legal challenges or behaviour in the presidential race. There have also been concerns about Trump’s mental stability as the politician has made many comments that seem particularly outlandish or simply don’t make sense. While this sort of criticism was once more focused on his opponent Joe Biden, who turned 81 last year, Trump's age has become, over time, more of a topic of conversation. The businessman is 77, and will celebrate his 78th birthday in the summer of 2024.

Already in March 2024, the former POTUS caused a stir with his controversial 'bloodbath' comment. A few days later Trump was back under the media’s microscope as his physical health was being brought into question. A recent video of the politician dancing on stage has been circulating online. Here’s why everyone was talking about the politician’s right leg.

Donald Trump’s right leg

In March 2024, a video of Trump was doing the rounds on social media and gathered a lot of interest from viewers. The clip was posted to X by Trump critic Ron Filipkowski, who is the editor-in-chief of the independent news network MeidasTouch. In it, Trump can be seen ‘dancing’ with his fists clenched in front of a cheering crowd. Then he exits the stage, gripping onto the handrails for support.

At first, people commented on Trump’s moves in the video as his dancing is a little awkward. But Filipowski’s caption brought viewers’ attention to something else:

Something is definitely going on with his right leg. He's been dragging it for months. This weekend…

Since, many people have thrown their two cents into the conversation.

Comments about Trump’s leg

Many X users have taken to the platform to share their thoughts. One user asked: ‘He gripped that stair rail for life didn't he?’.

It’s true that Trump slams his hand into the handrail in the video, but this could be seen as part of the over-the-top jovial show he was putting on. @SisyphusUnleas said this is not the first time Trump’s leg has seemed stiff in footage. However, they mentioned his left leg:

I have noted this before. His left leg has no lateral movement. It only points forward. He can't turn that ankle.

It is unclear whether this is a mistake, or whether the ex-President's left leg has also caused concern in the past. Another user, @Fox829583Fox, rather savagely wrote:

Hey! What’s wrong with Trumps Right leg? I’m sure his heart is working overtime carrying all that weight, he is a ticking time bomb!

While others have pointed to a stroke as the cause of this seeming stiffness, none of these theories have been confirmed. Trump is always keen to appear rock-solid when it comes to his health, so it seems unlikely that he will reveal much in the run-up to the 2024 presidential election.

#SleepyDon

However, though Trump insists on showing a tough front to appear as fit as possible to be President once again, the businessman turned politician is not always successful. In April 2024, his lack of success became apparent when he seemingly fell asleep while in court.

This was not the first time Trump seemed disinterested in court proceedings but falling asleep was a new low (or high, we're unsure). Yet, what was happening was interesting: Trump is being brought in front of a criminal judge as he stands accused of paying hush money to former porn-star Stormy Daniels. Allegedly, Trump paid her to keep silent about their affair while he was running for President in 2016.

This trial, though seemingly boring to Trump, is making history: he is the only former US President to even stand criminal trial.

This possible nap was reported by New York Times journalist Maggie Haberman while she was updating the publication's blog on the trial. She wrote that his 'head keeps dropping down and his mouth goes slack'. According to Haberman, when she and Trump went back into the courtroom after recess, he had seen her update and glared at her.

Unfortunately for Trump, Haberman isn't the only journalist present at the trial who saw this moment of weakness. A colleague working as an investigative journalist, Susanne Craig, confirmed her words. She herself wrote that Trump’s ‘head nodded down’ then ‘jolted back up’.

As one can expect this moment was recuperated by internet users who were more than happy to make fun of Trump. The hashtags #SleepyDon and #SleepyDonald took over X in no time!

User @JoJoFromJerz chose sarcasm:

Honestly, let him sleep. Wheel him into a fake Oval Office on the back nine of Trump National, tell him he’s the president, hand him a Diet Coke and a hamberder, play a nature video, quietly close the door, and walk away. #SleepyDon

Lawyer and political, on his end, followed this trend and ironically added:

Trump fell asleep at his criminal trial. Looks like Sleepy Don is too old and low-energy to be president.

Though, of course, seeing a former US President seemingly fall asleep during his criminal trial can make some smile, this event wouldn't have such a global impact if Trump wasn't using the term 'Sleepy Joe' to refer to Biden so frequently. He tends to use it to highlight how old Joe Biden is in order to shatter his chances at reelection.

Read more:

⋙ Donald Trump: Here's how the former POTUS' appearance has changed over the years

⋙ Donald Trump: The former POTUS has plans to change the US if he is re-elected

⋙ Donald Trump: The former President loses longterm spokesperson Liz Harrington

Sources used:

Newsweek: Donald Trump's Right Leg Prompts Speculation

OK: Is Donald Trump OK? Ex-Prez Appears to Grip Stair Railing After Dragging His Right Leg for Months: Watch
X