Trump’s Miraculous Recovery from Bone Spurs

The story of Donald Trump’s bone spurs is less of a medical history and more of a political “ghost story”—it appeared exactly when needed in 1968 and has effectively “vanished” from his physical life ever since, though it continues to haunt his public record.

As of March 2026, here is the breakdown of what happened to the diagnosis that changed the course of his life.

1. The “Miraculous” Recovery

Medically speaking, bone spurs (osteophytes) do not simply disappear. They are calcium deposits that usually require surgery or significant podiatric treatment to resolve if they are causing pain.

The Vanishing Act: Despite the 1968 diagnosis that made him “unqualified” for the draft, Trump has never reported having surgery to remove them.
Athletic Continuity: During the same era he was medically deferred, he was an active athlete, playing baseball, tennis, and football. In the decades since, he has been an avid golfer, frequently walking courses without any reported foot impairment.
The “Other” Foot: In various interviews over the years, Trump has struggled to remember which foot was affected, sometimes claiming it was one, sometimes both, further fueling skepticism about the physical reality of the condition.

2. The “Small Favor” Investigation

The most significant update to this story came when the New York Times tracked down the family of the podiatrist who reportedly gave the diagnosis, Dr. Larry Braunstein.

The Quid Pro Quo: Dr. Braunstein’s daughters alleged that the diagnosis was a “favor” to Fred Trump, who was the doctor’s landlord at the time. According to the family, the diagnosis ensured that if there were issues with the building, Fred Trump would handle them immediately as a thank-you for keeping his son out of Vietnam.
Missing Records: No paper medical records from 1968 have ever been produced by the Trump campaign or found in the National Archives to corroborate the specific clinical findings of the spurs.

3. Political “Payback” (2024–2026)

In the current 2026 political climate, the bone spurs have resurfaced as a primary weapon for his detractors, especially given the ongoing tensions with Iran.

The “War Leader” Critique: Opponents frequently contrast his 1968 medical exemption with his current role as Commander-in-Chief during Operation Epic Fury. Critics argue that his “bravery” in ordering strikes from the Oval Office is undermined by his history of avoiding personal service.
Michael Cohen’s Testimony: Trump’s former lawyer, Michael Cohen, testified to Congress that Trump once told him, “You think I’m stupid? I wasn’t going to Vietnam,” explicitly linking the deferment to a desire to avoid the war rather than a genuine medical disability.

Summary Table: The Life of the Spurs

Period	Status of Bone Spurs	Key Context
1968	“Severe” enough for 1-Y classification.	Avoided the Vietnam Draft.
1970s – 2010s	Dormant / Non-existent.	Active in sports, high-intensity business travel.
2015	“Small, temporary” spurs.	Trump claimed they “healed up” over time.
2024 – 2026	Political “Ghost.”	Used by critics to contrast his hawkish foreign policy.

In short, the bone spurs have “healed” in a way that defies most medical textbooks, leaving behind only a paper trail of controversy and a permanent asterisk on his military record.