Donald Trump is taking extreme steps to try and hide his unsightly swollen ankles from public view, liberal critics have claimed. 

MSNBC star Laurence O'Donnell, 79, started a frenzy of speculation on his show The Last Word earlier this week. 

He pointed out how the president, also 79, sat behind the Resolute Desk in the Oval Office while greeting visiting European leaders to hide his 'cankles'. 

'Presidents actually rarely sit at the Oval Office desk like that during meetings in the Oval Office with people from outside the White House staff,' O'Donnell said.

'He made sure no one was going to be able to compare his ankles to a French president's ankles or a German chancellor's or a British prime minister's,' O'Donnell continued.

'Donald Trump now has an extra incentive to stay behind the desk because the Resolute Desk will help him hide, at least one of his problems.' 

Trump did come out from behind his desk for a meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky later the same day, on the couches where such chats traditionally take place. 

But an official White House photo cleverly-obscured Trump's ankles by with the help of a model of Trump's new Air Force One plane sat on a nearby coffee table. 

Other shots taken by wire photographers gave a better view of the president's cankles - an unflattering term used when a person's calves and feet are not visually separated by their ankles. 

And even MAGA fans addressed 'Cankle-gate'. 

Far-right Infowars host Alex Jones claimed they're a symptom of the president working too hard and warned that Trump faces a health 'crisis' if he 'doesn't take his foot off the gas pedal.' 

Trump was recently diagnosed with chronic venous insufficiency, a condition that occurs when a leg vein is damaged and struggles to send blood back to the heart.

Dr David Shokrian, a plastic surgeon with Millennial Plastic Surgery, told the Daily Mail Thursday that Trump's diagnosis can indeed cause cankles.

'Venous insufficiency and varicose veins are closely linked to the development of lower limb edema and "cankles" through impaired venous return and increased hydrostatic pressure,' Dr Shokrian said.

'It's likely that the combination of his weight, diet, lack of cardiovascular exercise and stress are all contributing to this problem.'

The plastic surgeon - who is an expert in contouring procedures such as liposuction, Brazilian butt lifts, facelifts and mini tummy tucks - suggested two types of treatments for Trump's condition. 

'If swelling is due to venous disease or edema, vascular procedures - ablation, sclerotherapy, compression - are most effective,' Dr Shokrian said. 'If due to fat deposits, targeted liposuction and body contouring are the solution.'

Ablation destroys or removes abnormal tissue, sclerotherapy destroys varicose veins, while compression simply involves putting pressure on an affected area. 

He added that patients often benefit from a 'staged or combined' treatment plan, dependent on whether the 'primary problem is fluid or fat'.

But Dr Shokrian warned that liposuction - a notoriously painful procedure - can take weeks to recover from, ruling it out for the President of the United States. 

The White House confirmed Trump's chronic venous insufficiency diagnosis last month, saying it is a 'common condition' in individuals over the age of 70 and that the president showed 'no evidence' of deep vein thrombosis or arterial disease. 

President Trump's former personal physician Dr. Ronny Jackson forcefully refuted speculation about Trump's health Thursday - but did not address the cankle issue.

'As President Trump's former personal physician, former Physician to the President, and White House physician for 14 years across three administrations, I can tell you unequivocally: President Donald J. Trump is the healthiest president this nation has ever seen' Jackson said.

'I continue to consult with his current physician and medical team at the White House and still spend significant time with the President. He is mentally and physically sharper than ever before.'

Trump blasted O'Donnell from his Truth Social account - but avoided drawing further attention to the unflattering cankle claims that had started the ball rolling.

He  blasted MSNBC on his Truth Social platform, branding them 'fake news' and alleging the content they create is 'garbage'. 

But the president publicly denouncing MSNBC's credibility has not stopped critics and fans alike from expressing concern over his health.

Trump's swollen ankles were also on full display as he met with Russian President Vladimir Putin during their summit in Alaska last Friday, causing an uproar online.

Some social media users alleged that Trump appeared to 'struggle walking a straight line down red carpet laid out for Putin's arrival'.

Others highlighted how while Putin sported a 'sardonic smile', Trump merely showcased his 'swollen ankles'.

Many Trump supporters insist Trump's cankles are just an unfortunate side-effect of his ferocious work ethic. 

Trump won his second term in office in large part to the evidence cognitive decline of his Democrat predecessor Joe Biden, 82.

Unlike Biden, Trump is still in sharp command of his mental facilities and has not repeatedly tripped while walking up the stairs of Air Force One.  

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters last month that Trump was checked out by his doctor after noticeable 'swelling' and revealed he had been diagnosed with 'chronic venous insufficiency'.

A letter released by White House Physician Sean Barbarella, DO, references 'mild swelling' in Trump's lower legs, and states the diagnosis emerged after a series of vascular studies. 

Leavitt said during her rare medical update that the president underwent a 'comprehensive examination' which included 'diagnostic vascular studies.'

'Bilateral, lower extremity ultrasounds were performed and revealed chronic venous insufficiency,' Leavitt stated. 

She also addressed the 'minor bruising' on the back of Trump's hand. 

'This is consistent with minor soft-tissue irritation from frequent handshaking and use of aspirin, which is taken as part of a standard cardiovascular prevention regimen. This is a well-known and benign side effect of aspirin therapy.'

'The president remains in excellent health,' Leavitt continued and reiterated that there was 'no discomfort from the president at all.'

She then pointed to his daily activities, highlighting how 'on a day-to-day basis, he's working around the clock'.