President Donald Trump has sparked fresh health fears after the right side of his face appeared to droop during a 9/11 memorial service. The 80-year-old US President was attending a ceremony at the Pentagon marking the 25th anniversary of the September 11 terror attacks when his appearance attracted attention.
Images from the service appeared to show the right side of Mr Trump's face drooping as he sat alongside First Lady Melania Trump. Washington-based pulmonary and critical care physician Dr Nick Mark reacted to an image of the President on X, writing: "That’s a facial droop."
Renewed speculation over President's health
The appearance has fuelled fresh speculation about the health of America's oldest sitting president, who has faced repeated scrutiny over his wellbeing during his second term. It comes exactly a year after the right side of Mr Trump's face also appeared to droop during a September 11 memorial event in 2025.
At the time, the images prompted speculation that the President could have suffered a stroke, although there has been no confirmation from Mr Trump's doctors that he has had one.
Previous medical assessments and denials
The POTUS has previously hit back at concerns surrounding his health, claiming a recent MRI scan produced "some of the best reports for the age" and "some of the best reports they've ever seen". White House physician Dr Sean Barbabella also described the results of the President's annual check-up as "exceptional", adding that his cardiac age was "approximately 14 years younger than his chronological age".
Professor Bruce Davidson, of Washington State University's medical school, has previously claimed however that there was "evidence" to support his belief that Mr Trump had suffered a stroke. He told The Court of History podcast: "I think his stroke was on the left side of the brain, which controls the right side of the body.
"I think the stroke was six months ago or more, earlier in 2025. There are videos of him shuffling his feet, which is not what we’d seen previously when he was striding on the golf course.
"We’ve seen him holding his right hand cradled in his left. Earlier in 2025, he was garbling words, which he hadn’t done before and which he’s improved upon more recently."
Professor Davidson later wrote: "To the trained, careful observer, it is evident that President Donald Trump had a stroke."
White House response and ongoing scrutiny
However, the White House and Mr Trump's doctors have repeatedly pushed back against wider concerns about his health. Mr Trump was diagnosed with chronic venous insufficiency last year after experiencing swelling in his lower legs. At the time, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said testing had found no evidence of deep vein thrombosis or arterial disease, while the President's hand bruising was attributed to frequent handshaking and aspirin use.
Questions about his health continued after he underwent medical imaging at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in October. The White House later insisted the examination showed Mr Trump remained in "exceptional physical health".
And following another examination earlier this year, Mr Trump's physician Dr Sean Barbabella again sought to dismiss concerns over his condition. In a memo released by the White House in May, Dr Barbabella said the President "remains in excellent health, demonstrating strong cardiac, pulmonary, neurological and overall physical function".
Mr Trump himself has also defended his health and energy, previously dismissing suggestions that he had fallen asleep during meetings by saying he had merely been blinking or resting his eyes.
White House spokesperson Davis Ingle said: "President Trump was solemnly listening and remembering the victims and heroic first responders who tragically lost their lives on that fateful day.
"Anyone ridiculously claiming the President was asleep is lying."
