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Y’all… I really hate being in conspiracy land.
It’s dark. It feels icky. It’s way outside the comfort zone of reasonable adults who would rather deal exclusively in facts.
Unfortunately, we’re living under a presidential administration that deals exclusively in the exact opposite manner. There is no good faith to be found in their day-to-day actions, and that means we have to interrogate their intentions and constantly assume bad faith.
So, what I’m about to say isn’t offered lightly or cavalierly.
I think Donald Trump and his closest supporters may be laying the groundwork for the option of leaving office for medical reasons. I’m not saying that’s what they’re going to do. I’m not saying it’s what he’s likely to do.
But I am saying that he may be keeping his options open, especially as the controversy over the Epstein quagmire continues to widen and his base continues to revolt against his lack of transparency over a massive sex trafficking operation.
A short while ago, Karoline Leavitt, Trump’s White House Press Secretary, made a very curious announcement from the podium regarding speculation over Trump’s health, pertaining to images of his swollen ankles and images of his hands being covered in what looks like makeup foundation, ostensibly to cover bruising.
Here’s what she said:
I know that many in the media have been speculating about bruising on the President's hand and also swelling in the President's legs.
In the effort of transparency, the President wanted me to share a note from his physician with all of you today:
In recent weeks, President Trump noted mild swelling in his lower legs.
In keeping with routine medical care and out of an abundance of caution, this concern was thoroughly evaluated by the White House Medical Unit.
The President underwent a comprehensive examination, including diagnostic vascular studies. Bilateral, lower extremity, venous doppler ultrasounds were performed and revealed chronic, venous insufficiency — a benign and common condition, particularly in individuals over the age of 70.
Importantly, there was no evidence of deep vain thrombosis or arterial disease.
Laboratory testing included a complete blood count, comprehensive metabolic panel, coagulation profile, B-type natriuretic peptide and cardiac bio markers. All results were within normal limits.
An echocardiogram was also performed and confirmed normal cardiac structure and function. No signs of heart failure, renal impairment, or systemic illness were identified.
Additionally, recent photos of the President have shown minor bruising on the back of his hand. This is consistent with minor soft tissue irritation from frequent handshaking and the use of aspirin, which is taken as part of a standard cardiovascular prevention regimen. This is a well known and benign side effect of aspirin therapy.
And the President remains in excellent health, which I think all of you witness on a daily basis.
Okay, pause for a second here. Let’s take a few steps back.
When was the last time Trump or any of his spokespeople offered up information on his medical status without real prompting because there was some speculation based on a few photos?
Never. It’s never happened. This is the least medically transparent person to ever occupy the Oval Office.
In the past, he has offered up results of his routine medical physicals that were dubious at best and blatant propaganda at worst. He has always gone to great lengths to present himself as the picture of perfect health, even as all of us know he isn’t.
He hates looking weak. He believes any medical problem of any kind makes him look weak, no matter how seemingly minor.
Even when he contracted COVID in 2020 and survived the assassination attempt last summer, his spokespeople and medical staff were often cagey with the information they released about his condition, and that was coupled with Trump’s immediate efforts to present himself as virile and unstoppable.
So, it begs the question: why would Donald Trump, of all people, give a damn what the public speculates about photos of his swollen ankles and bruised hands?
Normally, he and his people would just ignore it. They’d probably slam the media for even asking about it.
If anything, if he did care—and he does not, I promise you—he wouldn’t have a medical evaluation about it released from the White House Press Briefing Room under normal circumstances.
This just doesn’t make sense. This stinks. Something is going on.
Maybe the most generous reading is that Trump is pulling out yet another distraction card against the Epstein mess and attempting to court sympathy from his supporters, who have been furious with him in recent days.
But even that just doesn’t feel quite right.
Think about it. If the Epstein debacle continues on its current trajectory, what would be a more effective way to mitigate the damage and evade responsibility?
Trump could do a whole dog-and-pony show about leaving office for medical reasons, entirely out of his control, just couldn’t be helped, a victim of fate, even a martyr.
Vance becomes president and immediately pardons Trump of all possible federal crimes, claiming it’s to protect him from the Left’s insatiable appetite for destroying innocent people.
And Trump just rides off into the sunset, billions of dollars richer, free from accountability, and the Republican Party gets something of a clean slate for the Midterms with Vance as its leader.
Look, again, I’m not saying this is what they’re going to do. In fact, at the moment, I think it’s unlikely.
But it really feels like Trump may be constructing some kind of contingency plan for himself and the Republican Party if the Epstein scandal gets worse and they can’t get a handle on it and shit hits the fan.
Keep your eye on this. Something’s up.
My only quibble with this theory is his astronomical narcissism. He's never going to ride off quietly into the sunset, he must be the center of everyone's attention at all times. Now, if it's not coming from him, but Stephen Miller is orchestrating a forced exit ... That wouldn't surprise me.
I could not agree with you more. Something's up and his leaving/being pardoned, etc. is a very believable scenario.