Donald Trump has ended a week of relative seclusion, emerging for a brief public event after days spent largely behind closed doors. The president's last public appearance before Wednesday was a Cabinet meeting on May 27, following a medical check-up at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center. The White House had scheduled no public events for the week, but at the last minute opened a previously closed executive order signing to the press.
During the event, Trump repeated familiar talking points, including touting the repainting of the Lincoln Memorial reflecting pool and comparing its size to skyscrapers. He also praised crime reduction and cleanliness in Washington, DC. The president's light schedule comes as he approaches his 80th birthday on June 14, making him the oldest person to start a term as president.
Questions about Trump's health have persisted, with observers noting bruising on his hands, swelling in his legs, and a rash on his neck. The White House attributes the bruising to aspirin use and hand-shaking, and the swelling to a circulatory condition. Aides insist the president has boundless energy, pointing to his late-night social media activity as evidence.
Trump's reduced visibility began in February when he launched the war with Iran, which has led to rising gas prices and falling approval ratings. Data from the White House Transition Project shows a significant drop in press interactions since the war started, with fewer Q&A sessions and news conferences. The president has also largely abandoned campaign rallies, a hallmark of his political career.
Despite his light schedule, Trump has maintained contact with reporters via his personal mobile phone, conducting over 100 short interviews in two months. However, even that outreach has slowed in recent weeks. The midterm elections, which could determine control of Congress, are now five months away.
