Experts have offered possible explanations for President Donald Trump’s apparent right-leg drag after a viral video of him playing golf prompted questions about his health.
The footage, shared by a groundskeeping company that appears to service Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate, seemingly shows Trump dragging his right leg after appearing to have difficulty getting out of a golf cart on Sunday.
Team Trump spokesman Steven Chueng strongly rejected suggestions that the president was in poor health, accusing “deranged and morally bankrupt liberals – including corrupt media” of spreading “complete falsehoods and fabricated lies because they have no shame.”
“Instead, they spend every waking hour of their pathetic lives suffering from a debilitating case of Trump Derangement Syndrome that has rotted their brain,” he added.
Trump cannot be diagnosed from video footage alone, and any proper assessment would require a physical examination and access to his medical records. Experts nevertheless said the unsteady movement could have several possible causes.
Arun Gray, a UK-based sports scientist and injury-rehabilitation specialist, told DailyMail.com that Trump appeared to show signs of “knock knee,” a condition in which the knees angle inward.
Medical doctors, however, said the movement could also potentially reflect a more serious neuromuscular or degenerative condition, including amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) or multiple sclerosis.
Experts have offered possible explanations for President Donald Trump’s apparent right-leg drag after a viral video of him playing golf on Sunday prompted questions about his health
Gray, lead therapist at AG Injury & Rehabilitation with more than 15 years of experience, believes Trump – who is 6’3″ tall – may have “knock knee,” medically known as bilateral knee valgus.
He described knock knee as relatively common, particularly among taller people and those with weaker gluteal muscles.
The condition is generally harmless, Gray said, although it can place additional strain on the inner knees and contribute to hip discomfort, a higher risk of arthritis and lower-back problems.
He said the viral golf footage appeared to show a subtle side-to-side “waddle” in Trump’s gait, which can sometimes point to reduced glute function.
“Given his lifestyle – including extensive travel, prolonged sitting in meetings, and reliance on a golf buggy rather than walking the course – it’s likely that muscle weakness and inactivity contribute to his movement patterns,” Gray said.
If Trump does have knock knee, Gray said hip-mobility exercises, glute strengthening and more regular physical activity could help improve the condition.
Dr. Snieguole Geige, of the UK’s It’s Me and You Clinic, also raised the possibility of knee weakness. She said this can result from arthritis or ligament injuries and may cause visible instability and difficulty walking.
She cautioned, however, that the unsteady movement could also be linked to a progressive spinal-disc problem, such as a herniated disc, which can cause pain, numbness and weakness in the legs.
“Neuromuscular degenerative issues, like ALS or multiple sclerosis, could also be responsible for changes in gait and muscle weakness,” she said.
Trump was seen dragging his leg in January 2024 as he delivered pizza to firefighters before the Iowa caucuses. Experts have now suggested he may be exhibiting “knock knee,” a condition in which both knees bend inward
A video captured in February 2024 showed Trump limping as he walked into a room filled with cheering supporters
Video of Trump “dragging his leg” at a campaign rally went viral in March last year after MAGA critic Ron Filipkowski shared it on X
Trump appears to have dealt with the apparent leg drag for several years. He made headlines in July 2020, during his first Oval Office term, after seemingly dragging his right leg while visiting a laboratory in North Carolina
Rimas Geiga, a medical doctor, registered dietician and clinic nutritionist, said he was “skeptical” that Trump was experiencing weak knees or a routine spinal-disc problem.
“As I scrutinize the footage of President Trump’s golf course outing, I notice subtle hitches in his stride such as less swagger and a more guarded shuffle,” Dr Geiga said. “His legs seem to betray a slight asymmetry, a whisper of compensatory movement.”
He said the movement could possibly point to early neuromuscular decline, including peripheral neuropathy, a condition that damages nerves outside the brain and spinal cord.
“More plausibly, I’d wager on a subtle cerebellar dysfunction, a shadow of coordination loss that golf’s demands could unmask,” Dr Geiga added.
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Dr Veronika Matutyte, whose specialties include gerontology – the study of aging and its effects – said the apparent leg drag suggested a neurological or musculoskeletal issue requiring further assessment.
One possibility, Dr Matutyte said, is lumbar spinal stenosis. The condition is common among older adults and can cause leg weakness and difficulty walking when nerves are compressed.
The gerontologist also cited post-stroke gait disturbance, which can result in one leg dragging or problems with balance. She noted, however, that there has been no public confirmation that Trump has suffered a stroke.
“The rigidity in his right leg also raises my concerns about a neuromuscular disorder such as Parkinson’s disease or even early signs of ALS,” she added.
“If his condition has progressed, it may explain why his stance appears more rigid than in previous years.”
In the viral footage, President Trump appeared to drag his right leg as he left the golf cart, prompting social media users to claim that his legs looked “far from stable,” “wobbly” and “pigeon-toed”
Arun Gray, a UK-based sports scientist and injury-rehabilitation specialist, believes Trump may have “knock knee,” formally known as bilateral knee valgus. The condition is relatively common, particularly among taller people and those with weaker gluteal muscles
As the golf video spread on Sunday, social media users filled X with concerns and speculation about Trump’s legs.
“What’s up with Trump’s leg?” one X user asked.
“Any geriatricians around?” another wrote. “What’s wrong with Trump’s legs/gait? He’s moving knock-kneed and swinging his right leg like it’s dead weight?”
A third user asked: “What’s up with his right leg and foot? Looks all wobbly and pigeon-toed.”
Another claimed Trump appeared to be struggling to step out of the cart and said his legs looked “far from stable.”
Other users offered theories about a range of health conditions, although it was unclear what medical basis, if any, they had for those claims.
“Trump has bilateral drop foot,” wrote a woman whose profile suggests she is a registered nurse. “You can see his right brace under his pant leg.”
She also claimed Trump would soon be using a walker and that “POTUS is UNWELL.”
Another user said that dragging a leg can be a symptom of neurodegenerative disease, while also claiming without evidence that Trump had advancing dementia, was senile and was morbidly obese.
Social media users quickly questioned the president’s health, with many asking whether something was wrong with Trump’s legs
Others baselessly suggested that the president could have a range of health conditions, although it was unclear what medical authority, if any, supported those theories
Trump has faced questions about the mobility of his right leg for years, with speculation about a possible underlying condition increasing last year.
Video of Trump “dragging his leg” at a campaign rally went viral in March last year after MAGA critic Ron Filipkowski posted it on X.
Similar footage recorded in February 2024 showed Trump limping as he entered a room filled with cheering supporters.
A month earlier, Filipkowski shared footage of the then-presidential nominee delivering pizza to firefighters before the Iowa caucuses. Trump’s leg appeared to trail behind him as he carried a stack of pizzas across the fire station.
In October last year, while unveiling the MAGA garbage truck, Trump also appeared to use only his right leg as he climbed onto the vehicle.
The apparent leg drag has been observed for several years. In July 2020, during Trump’s first term in the Oval Office, he made headlines after seemingly dragging his right leg while visiting a laboratory in North Carolina.
