President Donald Trump’s walk is once again under scrutiny after new footage showed him moving with visible difficulty during a golf outing in Virginia. The 79-year-old, who played alongside retired baseball star Roger Clemens and his son Kacy, appeared to struggle to walk in a straight line and seemed to drag his right leg.
The video was posted online by Kacy Clemens, who titled it “A Day on the Course With the President.” It showed clips of the group playing, riding in carts, and speaking casually. At one point, the president is seen alongside Roger Clemens, moving slowly, while his leg appears stiff.
Ben Meiselas of MeidasTouch reviewed the footage and claimed, “He’s dragging that right leg again, and he can’t walk in a straight line.” The clip later cuts to Trump near a small set of steps, which some viewers suggested may have been edited to avoid showing him descending.
President Donald Trump walks alongside Roger Clemens during a golf outing on Saturday. Kacy Clemens/Instagram
During the outing, viewers also noticed a large bruise on Trump’s left hand. This comes after months of repeated debate about bruising seen on his right hand. The president’s right hand has often been covered with makeup in recent public appearances, a detail that has been widely observed by reporters and critics.
Karoline Leavitt, the White House press secretary, defended the president’s health concerns again in a statement. She said, “President Trump is a man of the people and he meets more Americans and shakes their hands on a daily basis than any other President in history. His commitment is unwavering and he proves that every single day.”
This official explanation has been given before. In February, Trump’s physician, Dr. Sean Barbabella, expanded on Leavitt’s comments by noting that bruising was consistent with soft tissue irritation caused by frequent handshakes. Dr. Barbabella also cited the president’s daily use of aspirin as part of a cardiovascular prevention routine. The new bruise on Trump’s left hand, rather than his right, has sparked another round of questions.
In addition to the bruise, Trump’s golf performance received attention. According to a scorecard later shared online, the president placed last out of the four players. Observers quickly pointed out that while it may have damaged his score, the health questions overshadowed the game itself.
The choice of music in Kacy Clemens’ video also revived a separate controversy. The highlight clip featured the song “I Won’t Back Down” by Tom Petty. The Petty family previously sent a legal notice to the Trump campaign in 2020 demanding that the track not be used at rallies or events. The reappearance of the song in Saturday’s Instagram post drew renewed reactions from critics and music fans alike.
This is not the first time Trump’s walk has made headlines this month. On August 15, during his summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska, footage captured the president veering side to side while walking across a red carpet. He struggled to stay in the center of the walkway before reaching Putin for the scheduled meeting.
Critics have argued that the short but noticeable stumbles are signs of age-related decline. Supporters claim they are exaggerated or taken out of context. The White House has framed Trump as an “active and transparent president” while taking aim at his predecessor Joe Biden’s health and age concerns.
“President Trump is the most active and transparent president in American history,” spokesperson Liz Huston told reporters. She added a sharp political contrast by saying, “Meanwhile, Joe Biden’s handlers covered up his mental decline for four years while they did everything in their power to destroy America.”
While official statements attempt to downplay the recent footage, debates over the president’s health are expected to continue as future campaign events unfold. Each new sighting, whether on the golf course or during formal meetings, now appears to be closely examined by both critics and supporters.
For many Americans, the questions are less about one stumble and more about the broader picture of an aging president holding the nation’s top office. Trump’s golf outing this weekend, rather than quelling the concerns, has only fueled more speculation about his physical condition and long-term stamina.
