Featured Image Credit: Sky News
Topics: Donald Trump, Health, Politics, US News
Callum Jones
Donald Trump issued a blunt reaction to questions regarding the controversial Epstein files in his first public appearance since a chronic venous insufficiency (CVI) diagnosis.
Cleveland Clinic states that the condition happens when your leg veins become damaged and can’t function as required, which has resulted in swelling being visible in the president's lower legs, close to his ankles.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt went into detail about Trump's diagnosis in a press conference on Thursday (July 17), explaining that Trump underwent medical tests to examine the swelling to his legs, as well as bruising he sustained to the back of his right hand.
"Importantly, there was no evidence of deep vein thrombosis or arterial disease," Leavitt said, reading out a message from the president's physician.
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The Republican made his first public appearance since that diagnosis on Friday (July 18) after signing crypto regulatory legislation.
But unlike most of his public appearances, Trump did not open up the floor for media questions, which led to some reporters shouting questions at him about Jeffrey Epstein.
In a rather uncharacteristic way, Trump walked straight past the journalists asking such and refused to give any kind of answer.
Earlier on, the US government signed a motion to unseal grand jury transcripts relating to Epstein, stating it is a matter of public interest.
The Justice Department has said in the past that over 200 documents relating to Epstein are in their possession, while the FBI is said to have thousands more.
Trump had ordered US Attorney General Pam Bondi to release 'any and all' information regarding Epstein, following an article published by the Wall Street Journal that Trump dubbed as 'fake'.
The WSJ published a piece this week claiming Ghislaine Maxwell - the former girlfriend and accomplice of Epstein - collected messages from Epstein's associates and added them to a birthday album for a celebration in 2003.
One of the alleged messages was seemingly written by Trump's, with the letter stating: "Happy Birthday - and may every day be another wonderful secret."
Trump was quick to respond to the Wall Street Journal report, writing on Truth Social: "The Wall Street Journal, and Rupert Murdoch, personally, were warned directly by President Donald J. Trump that the supposed letter they printed by President Trump to Epstein was a FAKE and, if they print it, they will be sued.
"Mr. Murdoch stated that he would take care of it but, obviously, did not have the power to do so."
It was confirmed on Friday that Trump has filed a libel lawsuit against Rupert Murdoch, News Corp, and two Wall Street Journal reporters.