Late-night host Jimmy Fallon took a humorous jab at former President Donald Trump this week, inventing a new medical term to describe the ex-president's notorious social media habits.
Fallon's New Word for a Presidential Habit
During his Tuesday night broadcast of The Tonight Show, Jimmy Fallon directed his comedic attention to Donald Trump's frenetic posting spree on his Truth Social platform. Fallon highlighted that Trump had made more than 160 posts in a single night, leading to the host's creative diagnosis.
"This morning, Trump’s thumbs were as swollen as his ankles," Fallon quipped during his monologue. Adopting his signature impression of Trump's voice, Fallon then declared, "OMG, I’ve got cankle ― I got thankles. I got thankles."
The Inspiration Behind 'Thankles'
The joke references a real medical report about the former president. Back in July, the White House confirmed Trump suffers from swollen ankles, medically linked to chronic venous insufficiency—a condition colloquially referred to as 'cankles.'
Fallon's portmanteau merges 'thumbs' with 'ankles,' suggesting a similar swelling condition could affect Trump's digits from overuse on his smartphone. "That’s a new word. Webster’s Dictionary, Oxford, if you’re listening, 'thankles' is a new word," Fallon proclaimed, formally submitting his satirical term to the lexicon.
Adding to the List of Physical Queries
Fallon's bit didn't stop at the newly minted 'thankles.' He extended the gag by suggesting observers might also want to check on the status of Trump's hand bruise, a nod to previous public scrutiny over the former president's physical condition.
The segment underscores how Trump's prolific and often volatile social media presence continues to be a rich source of material for comedians and commentators, blending his online behaviour with ongoing public curiosity about his health.
