When President Donald Trump showed up at a UFC championship fight in June 2025, nobody expected his outfit would become bigger news than the actual match. A single photo showing him with fighter Kayla Harrison set off a whirlwind of online chatter about the 78-year-old president’s health—and whether he might be using a medical device under his suit.
What Happened at the UFC Event
The controversy started on June 7, 2025, at UFC 316 in Newark, New Jersey. After Kayla Harrison won the women’s bantamweight championship, she walked over to Trump and wrapped her championship belt around his waist in celebration. Photos from the moment went viral on social media—but not for the reasons you’d expect.
Sharp-eyed social media users spotted a visible line running down Trump’s left pant leg. Within hours, thousands of people on Twitter, Facebook, and TikTok were sharing theories that the President was wearing a Foley catheter—a medical tube that drains urine into a bag strapped to the leg.
One viral post claimed the line was “definitely tubing, not a crease” and described it in vivid detail. The speculation quickly exploded across multiple platforms, with some posts gaining hundreds of thousands of views.
Understanding the Medical Device in Question
For those unfamiliar with medical equipment, a Foley catheter is a thin, flexible tube inserted into the bladder to help drain urine when someone can’t urinate normally. According to Cleveland Clinic medical experts, these devices connect to a small collection bag that’s typically hidden under clothing and strapped to the leg.
Doctors use catheters for various reasons—after surgery, for certain health conditions, or when patients have difficulty controlling their bladder. The devices are more common than many people realize, especially among older adults.
The White House Pushes Back
The Trump administration didn’t take long to respond to the spreading rumors. White House spokesperson Steven Cheung dismissed the claims as “fake” and “conspiracy theories” created by what he called “demented individuals hiding behind social media.”
Cheung pointed to Trump’s recent medical report as proof, stating the President is in “peak condition.” He also criticized those spreading the rumors, suggesting they were the same people who previously defended Joe Biden’s cognitive abilities.
What Medical Records Actually Show
Trump’s official health records paint a different picture than the social media speculation. In April 2025, White House physician Dr. Sean Barbabella released a detailed three-page medical report following Trump’s annual physical exam at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center.
According to that report, Trump weighs 224 pounds and stands 75 inches tall. The exam found him to be in “excellent health” with normal cardiac, pulmonary, and neurological function. Dr. Barbabella concluded that Trump “exhibits excellent cognitive and physical health and is fully fit to execute the duties of Commander-in-Chief.”
The medical evaluation revealed Trump takes cholesterol medications and had previously undergone cataract surgery. A colonoscopy in 2024 found diverticulosis (small pouches in the colon) and a non-cancerous polyp. Doctors recommended a follow-up colonoscopy in three years.
More recently, in October 2025, Trump underwent advanced imaging tests including cardiovascular and abdominal scans. Dr. Barbabella described these results as “perfectly normal” with no signs of arterial narrowing, inflammation, or organ problems.
The physician also noted Trump has chronic venous insufficiency—a common condition in older adults where leg veins have trouble moving blood back to the heart. This can cause mild swelling in the lower legs.
What Fact-Checkers Found
Multiple independent fact-checking organizations investigated the catheter claims. Snopes, a leading fact-checking website, examined video footage and photos from the UFC event closely. Their investigators looked at Trump from multiple angles as he walked around the arena and interacted with Harrison.
Their verdict? They couldn’t confirm whether Trump was wearing a catheter. However, their analysis revealed some important details. When they zoomed in on the image, they found a similar shadow on Trump’s other leg, suggesting the visible line might simply be caused by lighting and camera angle rather than medical tubing.
The fact-checkers also noted that in most photos from the event, Trump’s upper legs were shadowed by his suit jacket, making it nearly impossible to determine definitively what the bulge actually was.
Why Medical Privacy Matters
It’s worth remembering that presidents—like all Americans—have a right to medical privacy. They’re not legally required to share their health information with the public, though many choose to release certain details to demonstrate fitness for office.
Throughout history, presidents have kept various health conditions private. The public often doesn’t learn the full extent of a president’s medical issues until years after they leave office.
The Bigger Picture on Presidential Health
Trump, who took office for his second term at age 78, is the oldest president ever sworn in for a new term. His predecessor, Joe Biden, faced similar health scrutiny throughout his presidency, particularly after visible signs of aging and a poor debate performance that contributed to him dropping out of the 2024 race.
Trump himself frequently criticized Biden’s health during the campaign, making his own health a natural point of interest for the public and media.
What Medical Experts Say
Independent doctors who reviewed the available images for news outlets generally agreed on one thing: you simply can’t diagnose someone from photos alone. Medical professionals emphasized that many innocent explanations exist for creases or shadows in clothing.
Some physicians also noted that Foley catheters aren’t standard equipment for people who can walk around normally. Other options exist for managing minor urinary issues that wouldn’t require constant catheter use.
Social Media’s Role in Health Speculation
This incident highlights how quickly medical speculation can spread online. Within 48 hours, millions of people had seen and shared theories about Trump’s health—despite no actual medical evidence supporting the claims.
The episode raises important questions about how we consume and share health information in the digital age, especially regarding public figures.
The Bottom Line
After reviewing all available evidence—official medical reports, fact-checker investigations, and expert analysis—the catheter claims remain unverified. Multiple independent sources found the photographic evidence inconclusive.
What we know for certain: Trump underwent comprehensive medical examinations in 2025 that found no major health concerns. His physicians declared him fit to serve. The viral photo shows a line or shadow on his pants, but multiple explanations exist beyond a medical device.
Whether the speculation reflects genuine concern about presidential health or partisan politics, one thing is clear: in our current media environment, even a simple photo can ignite national conversations about leadership and fitness for office.
The incident serves as a reminder that extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence—and that a crease in someone’s pants probably doesn’t qualify as a medical diagnosis, no matter how many people share it online.

This article synthesized information from official White House medical reports, independent fact-checking by Snopes and other organizations, medical definitions from Cleveland Clinic, and reporting from NPR, CNN, ABC News, and CNBC.