Former President Bill Clinton was photographed leaving the airport Thursday carrying what appeared to be a portable defibrillator, raising fresh questions about the 79-year-old’s health just weeks before he is scheduled to testify in the congressional investigation of disgraced pedophile Jeffrey Epstein.
Clinton and his wife Hillary were seen departing the Hamptons with a medical device that several outlets identified as a Propaq MD Air Medical Bag, a compact defibrillator designed to monitor cardiac activity and deliver emergency shocks to patients at high risk of cardiac arrest.
The former president wore a blue jacket and tan hat while being escorted by his security team to board a private plane. Hillary Clinton covered herself in a black sweatshirt over a blue outfit for the flight. The photos were first obtained by The Daily Mail.
Take a look —
8/28/2025
Bill Clinton with defibrillator!Suicide week? 😳https://t.co/5HZaZmqfhz pic.twitter.com/279zUS6kVR
— Santa Surfing (@SantaSurfing) August 30, 2025
The sighting comes approximately two months after Clinton was seen stumbling on a New York City sidewalk during a book tour appearance. Video showed the former president grabbing onto a pole for support as his left leg buckled while entering the 92NY cultural center.
Bill and Hillary Clinton spotted in New York City for the launch of their new book "The First Gentleman." pic.twitter.com/t6nH3sUbkE
— Liberacrat™️ (@Liberacrat) June 11, 2025
Clinton has never publicly disclosed needing a portable defibrillator, though his extensive medical history suggests ongoing health challenges that have persisted for more than two decades.
The Arkansas native underwent emergency quadruple bypass surgery in 2004 at Presbyterian Hospital in Manhattan, just three years after leaving the White House. Doctors said at the time that he had narrowly avoided a catastrophic heart attack due to nearly complete blockages in his arteries.
Clinton returned to the hospital for surgery to repair a collapsed lung the following year, which doctors attributed to scar tissue from his bypass operation.
In 2010, Clinton experienced chest pains and was rushed to a New York hospital, where cardiologists inserted two stents into a clogged artery to restore proper blood flow.
Following these cardiac episodes, Clinton said he overhauled his lifestyle, adopting a mostly vegan diet and losing weight. He publicly credited the dietary changes with giving him a “second chance” at life.
Despite these lifestyle modifications, Clinton’s health struggles have persisted. In October 2021, he was hospitalized for several days in California with a urological infection that spread into his bloodstream, requiring treatment for sepsis with intravenous antibiotics.
Most recently, Clinton spent Christmas Eve 2024 at MedStar Georgetown University Hospital in Washington, DC, after developing a fever. His spokesperson said he underwent testing but was discharged the following day.
The portable defibrillator hints that Clinton’s cardiac condition may be deteriorating. These devices are specifically designed for patients with an elevated risk of sudden cardiac arrest.
The health concerns come as Clinton faces renewed scrutiny for his connections to convicted sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein. The House Oversight Committee subpoenaed both Bill and Hillary Clinton in July as part of its investigation into the federal government’s handling of the Epstein case.
Committee Chairman James Comer, a Republican, said the Clintons are among 10 individuals called to testify about their involvement with Epstein and his madam, Ghislaine Maxwell.
“The facts and circumstances surrounding both Mr. Epstein and Ms. Maxwell’s cases have received immense public interest and scrutiny,” Comer wrote in his subpoena.
Hillary Clinton is scheduled to testify on October 9, while Bill Clinton will appear before the committee on October 14.
In his 2024 memoir, Clinton acknowledged flying aboard Epstein’s private jet but claimed he had no knowledge of the financier’s criminal activities.
“The bottom line is, even though it allowed me to visit the work of my foundation, traveling on Epstein’s plane was not worth the years of questioning afterward,” Clinton wrote. “I wish I had never met him.”
The Epstein connection has drawn criticism from President Donald Trump, who claimed during a July trip to Scotland that Clinton visited the convicted pedophile’s private island 28 times. Clinton previously denied any association with Epstein’s island in a 2019 statement.
Despite his health challenges, Clinton remains an active figure in Democratic politics and fundraising efforts. He delivered speeches during the 2024 campaign season and continues to appear at Clinton Foundation events.
At 79, Clinton is currently the third-oldest surviving president, trailing 82-year-old Joe Biden and George W. Bush, who is approximately seven weeks older than Clinton. Former President Jimmy Carter, who held the distinction of being the longest-lived president in American history, died in December at age 100.
The defibrillator sighting raises important questions about Clinton’s fitness as he prepares for what could be contentious congressional testimony this fall, while also highlighting the ongoing health challenges faced by America’s aging political leadership.