Trump’s Turbulence Joke Lands Awkwardly As Health Rumors Swirl Again

President Donald Trump found himself in a bit of rough air this week — literally and figuratively — and, true to form, he turned it into a joke.

While flying over Asia during his latest overseas trip, Air Force One hit a burst of turbulence. Most passengers might grip their armrests. Trump saw a chance for stand-up.

“These are rough winds in Asia — I must tell you — this is a rough flight,” he said, holding court with reporters. Then came the punchline. “They’re gonna watch Trump and say, ‘He didn’t look too good, he’s got the shakes.’”

Air Force One hits turbulence over Asia and President Trump IMMEDIATELY trolls the media 😂

TRUMP: “These are rough winds. This is a rough flight. They’re gonna watch and say, he didn’t look good, he’s got the shakes!”

REPORTER: “You’re pretty solid!”pic.twitter.com/53JfnkcijO

— Jack (@jackunheard) October 30, 2025

The reporters laughed. Trump smiled, clearly enjoying the moment. For a brief minute, the man once known for firing contestants on television looked more like a comedian testing material on a late-night show.

Clips of the exchange spread quickly across X, the platform formerly known as Twitter. Reactions came from every corner of the political universe.

“How can you hate this man when he’s so funny,” wrote one user, @_AHariharan. Another, posting under the name Harris Richard, added, “One of the few things everyone should like about Trump is that he talks like a normal human and likes to make people laugh.”

Others were less charmed. User @JimJones69_ offered a backhanded compliment: “He’s an insane fascist, who is literally evil, but I sort of get how stupid people watch something like this and like him. He actually comes off as someone affable and normal.”

A user from BlueSky, going by @pystcat.bsky.social, joined in with a jab of their own. “Grandpa has a lot more than the shakes,” they wrote. “The way he babbles incoherently… that’s cognitive issues.”

The timing of Trump’s comedy bit was curious. Just weeks earlier, he had completed his second medical exam of the year at Walter Reed Medical Center. The visit included an MRI scan, which he later confirmed while speaking to reporters during the trip.

A memo from the White House physician declared Trump in “excellent cognitive and physical health.” The president, who turns 80 next year, seemed eager to prove it.

Still, photos of Trump’s hands and ankles have stirred some chatter online. In several shots from the Oval Office, his hands appeared bruised or covered with makeup. His ankles looked swollen — a common symptom of chronic venous insufficiency, the circulation issue doctors say he has.

None of that seems to be slowing him down. At a recent speech to Navy sailors, Trump praised his former White House doctor, Ronny Jackson, now a congressman. “He used to tell me all the time, ‘Sir, you’re in great shape,’” Trump told the crowd, sounding pleased to repeat the compliment.

Featured image via X screengrab