Overview

• Vice President JD Vance told USA Today he feels prepared to assume the presidency if necessary, pointing to roughly 200 days of on‑the‑job experience.
• He simultaneously expressed confidence that President Trump will complete his term, praising the president’s energy and daily workload.
• The White House reiterated that a bruise on Trump’s hand stems from frequent handshakes and aspirin use, which the physician called minor soft tissue irritation.
• Medical notes released in July said Trump has chronic venous insufficiency, described as common and benign in older adults, with tests showing no DVT, arterial disease, heart failure, renal impairment, or systemic illness.
• Context for the succession focus includes Trump’s age of 79, his survival of two assassination attempts in 2024, and GOP chatter about Vance’s future that he has publicly downplayed.