Testosterone is a hormone that, among other functions, affects muscle mass and energy levels. In men, levels typically decline with age.
A 2013 review published in the journal Psychosomatics shows that levels can drop by up to 40 percent between the ages of 40 and 70.
According to Harvard Health Publishing, the normal range for men aged 70 to 79 is between 156 and 819 nanograms per deciliter.
This is a broad range, and levels can also fluctuate throughout the day.
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In 2016, television physician Mehmet Oz stated on a program that Donald Trump’s testosterone level was 441 nanograms per deciliter, according to NPR.
That figure falls within the normal range for older men.
Elevated and low values
The Cleveland Clinic states that it can be difficult to determine whether a testosterone level is abnormally high.
Physician Zachary Rubin explained in a video on Facebook that elevated levels at that age may be due to hormone therapy, a hormone-producing tumor, or variations in laboratory measurements.
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Conversely, being overweight can reduce testosterone levels.
According to Health Digest, Trump’s medical examination in April 2025 found that he was not considered overweight.
However, The New York Times has previously reported that his weight has fluctuated.
Researchers from the Stanford University School of Medicine have, according to Health Digest, pointed out that very high testosterone levels may affect the prostate and the immune system.
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A political issue
The debate intensified in January when Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. highlighted on the “Katie Miller Podcast” that Trump’s level was high for a man over 70, according to Health Digest.
Political scientist Collin Anderson of the University at Buffalo told HuffPost that in some political circles, testosterone is associated with strength and masculinity.
According to Anderson, such health information can therefore take on symbolic significance beyond purely medical considerations.
The discussion about testosterone is thus not only about medical measurements but also about how figures can become part of the narrative of leadership and personal strength in political debate.
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Sources: Health Digest, Psychosomatics, Harvard Health Publishing, NPR, Cleveland Clinic, Facebook, The New York Times, Stanford University School of Medicine, and HuffPost.
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