When U.S. President Donald Trump showed up at a press event on July 15 with makeup covering a spot on the back of his hand, people were quick to notice.
The 79-year-old was at a press gaggle outside the White House with a makeup patch that looked like it was hiding a raised bump.
Donald Trump was photographed with makeup on his hand
Highlights
- Donald Trump appeared with makeup covering a raised bump on his hand during a July 15 White House press event.
- Medical experts suggest the mark could be a bruise caused by blood draws, insect bites, or minor bumps common in older adults.
- Trump’s press secretary attributed the bruise to frequent handshakes, but doctors doubt this explanation based on their experience.
Image credits: The White House/Flickr
Medical experts reviewed the footage and provided The Daily Mail with possible explanations.
It’s worth noting that none of the physicians quoted have directly examined Trump, and their observations are limited to press footage and images
Dr. Boback Berookhim, a urologist and men’s sexual health specialist in New York, told the publication that the mark was likely a bruise.
He explained it could be from a blood draw, an insect bite, or even from bumping his hand.
He also mentioned older adults, like Trump, bruise more easily because their skin is thinner and more fragile.
Dr. Stuart Fischer, an internist in New York, had a similar explanation. He said that skin fragility is relevant in people of Trump’s age.
Their skin is more vulnerable to developing purple blotches after minor bumps, he explained to The Daily Mail.
Dr. Neal Patel, a primary care physician in California, added that even a blood draw or hand brushing against a water bottle can cause visible marks in older people.
Patel explained how skin loses fat and collagen. This makes blood vessels easier to damage.
Image credits: AngryStaffer/X
Trump’s press secretary Karoline Leavitt told The Daily Mail that the bruise is due to handshakes.
“President Trump is a man of the people and he meets more Americans and shakes their hands on a daily basis (more) than any other President in history,” she wrote in a statement.
However, Dr. Patel doubted the idea that too much handshaking caused the bruises, saying that it sounded unlikely based on what he’s seen in his own patients.
Dr. Berookhim suggested another potential reason: that Trump may have had a regular check-up, or doctors might have drawn blood from his hand instead of his arm because it’s sometimes easier.
“Perhaps he is on medications that need monitoring—maybe he was having some complaint and they wanted to look further,” Dr. Berookhim said.
Dr. Patel further explained that if someone is dehydrated or has small veins, doctors often use the hand.
People have also scrutinized Trump’s ankles, which seem to be swollen in photos taken at the FIFA Club World Cup at MetLife Stadium on July 13.
He was also recently photographed with swollen ankles
Image credits: AngryStaffer/X
While the White House has made no official comment, doctors say swollen ankles can be an early warning sign of something serious, like liver or kidney disease, according to The Hindustan Times. Swollen ankles can also be the result of prolonged sitting or standing.
This is not the first time that people and the press have scrutinized marks on Trump’s body.
In one case last month, makeup seemed to cover a similar spot.
In another incident from February, People reported that Trump had a pink bruise on his right hand with makeup covering it. Back then, as well, Leavitt attributed it to Trump’s handshaking.
Doctors had similar explanations back then for the mark.
In 2020, Trump was photographed with bandages on the back of his right hand. This led people to speculate that he was receiving intravenous fluids.
However, Trump seems to be in good health as per his physical exam in April this year, at Walter Reed Medical Center.
He said he “did well” in the tests. The five-hour test included a full check-up and cognitive assessments.