‘Right to know’: Trump’s mystery bruises spark wild speculation
US President Donald Trump has sparked a renewed flurry of speculation about his health after apparently appearing “make-up free” with a large, dark bruise on the back of his hand.
Source: X
While signing executive orders in the Oval Office on Monday (US time), Trump appeared to cover up the back of his right hand with his left.
It came after he was seen with an apparent bruise on his left hand, and a patch of make-up covering his right, while golfing at the weekend.
The concealer was a poor match for Trump’s skin tone – described by publication Futurism as at “drag queen-level” and standing “out like the first splash of a Jackson Pollock painting”.
The President’s bruises were also clearly visible in photographs taken at the White House as 79-year-old Trump met South Korean President Lee Jae Myung on Monday.
It has further fuelled months of speculation that Trump – the oldest president to be inaugurated in the US – has a serious, unspecified, health condition. The White House has previously dismissed the concerns.
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“President Trump is a man of the people and he meets more Americans and shakes their hands on a daily basis than any other President in history. His commitment is unwavering and he proves that every single day,” press secretary Karoline Leavitt said when concerns first emerged in July.
The White House later expanded with an explanation from Trump’s doctor, Sean Barbabella.
“This is consistent with minor soft tissue irritation from frequent handshaking and the use of aspirin, which is taken as part of a standard cardiovascular prevention regimen,” Barbabella said.
“This is a well-known and benign side effect of aspirin therapy.”
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He said Trump was in “excellent health”.
The White House did confirm in July that Trump has chronic venous insufficiency.
The condition means it is more difficult for the blood to flow back to a sufferer’s heart so it pools in their legs, creating increased pressure in the veins in legs and feet. This can cause swelling (called oedema), skin discolouration, varicose veins, and even skin ulcers (the skin stretches because of the increased pressure and becomes weak and can tear).
The condition, which is common in people older than 70, was confirmed after Trump noticed swelling in his legs.
However, that diagnosis appears separate from his bruised hands, which were also apparent in November and February when French President Emmanuel Macron visited the White House.
The repetitive bruising has sparked rampant speculation on social media, particularly after Republicans made the health of former president Joe Biden a key element of last year’s US election.
“I’m not a fan of Trump at all, but if there is significant health issues, he has a responsibility to inform the people,” one person wrote.
A second said: “This bruise has been on his hand for months, combined with the severely swollen ankles, indicates a very serious condition.”
A third asked: What in the hell is going on with Trump’s legs and feet? Look at how his shoes are completely untied. And it looks like he’s bleeding through whatever was used to hide that reoccurring large bruise that only happens on his right hand. Whatever he’s hiding is getting worse.”
