WASHINGTON, 24 Sept. - (ANA) - US President Donald Trump sparked major health fears as he prepared to greet Chinese President Xi Jinping on Thursday. Footage from the White House appeared to show the 80-year-old President veering to the side as he walked along the red carpet ahead of the Chinese leader's arrival.

 

The clip was quickly picked up on social media, where US journalist Aaron Rupar drew attention to Trump's movements. Sharing the footage, he wrote: "Watch Trump walking here - he can't walk in a straight line." The video prompted a flurry of reaction, with one viewer claiming: "That right leg drags so hard." Another joked: "The red carpet may need guardrails." Another viewer feared Trump could fall, writing: "It's only a matter of time before he completely face plants." A further commenter declared: "He is a catastrophe waiting to happen." But others questioned whether Trump's movements had anything to do with his health, pointing out that he appeared to be moving towards a designated position at the end of the carpet ahead of the official photographs.

 

One person responded: "I would normally agree that he can't walk straight, but here I think he's just walking to the marker on the carpet for the pictures when he meets Xi."

 

Another similarly suggested there could be an innocent explanation, writing: "Isnt there a decent chance this is where they want him finishing to make room for Xi? Note the extra width at he end."

 

The moment came as Trump and First Lady Melania Trump prepared to formally welcome Xi and his wife Peng Liyuan to the White House for the Chinese leader's state visit.

 

The elaborate ceremony was set to feature 479 members of the US military, with Trump and Xi due to take part in a military review before holding talks.

 

The two leaders are expected to discuss a string of major issues during Xi's visit, including trade, artificial intelligence and tensions over Taiwan and Iran.

 

The White House has previously strongly pushed back against concerns raised about Trump's health.

 

Responding to questions from the Express about the President's health in June, White House spokesman Davis Ingle said: "President Trump's sharpness, unmatched energy, and historic accessibility stand in stark contrast to what we saw during the last administration when Democrats and the legacy media intentionally covered up Joe Biden's serious mental and physical decline from the American people.

 

"President Trump is the sharpest and most accessible President in American history who is working nonstop to solve problems and deliver on his promises."

 

The comments were made three months before Thursday's footage and were not issued in response to the latest clip.

 

Trump's health has nevertheless continued to attract scrutiny during his second term, including over bruising seen on his hands and swelling around his ankles.

 

The White House has previously said the President was diagnosed with chronic venous insufficiency, while his physician has maintained that he remains in "excellent health" and fully capable of carrying out his duties.  - (ANA) -

 

AB/ANA/24 September 2026  - - -