Vice President Vance said in a new interview that President Trump is in “incredibly good health,” but that he is prepared to step in as commander in chief if needed.
“Yes, terrible tragedies happen,” Vance told USA Today. “But I feel very confident the president of the United States is in good shape, is going to serve out the remainder of his term and do great things for the American people.
“And if, God forbid, there’s a terrible tragedy, I can’t think of better on-the-job training than what I’ve gotten over the last 200 days,” Vance added.
Trump is 79 and was the oldest president to be sworn in at the time of his inauguration in January. His health has been in the spotlight after the White House announced last month that he had undergone medical testing for swelling in his legs and bruising on his hands.
The president’s physician said Trump had chronic venous insufficiency, a common condition for individuals over the age of 70 where an individual’s veins struggle to pump blood back up to the heart.
The White House said the bruising on Trump’s hand was the result of “minor soft tissue damage from frequent handshaking” and regular aspirin use. A White House spokesperson cited the same explanation after photos circulated earlier this week of a large bruise on the back of Trump’s right hand.
The president was also grazed by a bullet in July 2024 at a campaign rally during an attempted assasination.
But Vance and other Trump allies have pointed to the president’s stamina and energy in saying they are unconcerned about his health.
“The president is in incredibly good health,” Vance told USA Today.
“He’s the last person making phone calls at night, and he’s the first person who wakes up and the first person making phone calls in the morning,” Vance added.
