Content Advisory: This article discusses health speculation and medical concerns involving a public figure. Reader discretion is advised.
Donald Trump’s hands sparked fresh online concern after photos from a White House event appeared to show swelling and heavy makeup coverage.
The president, 79, was seen Wednesday, May 6, with what some viewers described as concealer on the tops of his hands. The images spread quickly online, with critics questioning whether the makeup was used to cover bruising that has been noticed in past appearances.
The White House has previously offered explanations for the marks, but that has not stopped online speculation from growing.
Trump’s Hands Spark New Health Questions
As the photos circulated on X, several users connected the appearance of Trump’s hands to earlier concern over his ankles and past bruising.
One person wrote, “My aunt had severe heart failure when her hands and feet looked like Trump’s.”
Another asked why the public still had not received a clear answer, writing, “I like how no one actually can get a real answer on why Trumps hand is always bruised and has a pound of make up covering it.”
Others focused less on the medical concern and more on the makeup itself. “How does he, with all that money, get a Covergirl bad color match like that??” one critic wrote. Another joked, “Can’t they at least get the base colour to match?”
White House Has Addressed Bruising Before
The White House has previously pushed back on concern over Trump’s bruising. Navy Capt. Dr. Sean Barbabella has said Trump takes 325 milligrams of aspirin daily for “cardiac prevention.” Aspirin can increase the likelihood of bruising.
White House spokesperson David Ingle also suggested the marks may come from Trump’s frequent handshaking. Ingle called Trump “the sharpest, most accessible, and energetic president in American history,” and claimed he “meets more Americans and shakes their hands on a daily basis than any other president in history.”
Dr. Stuart Fischer, a New York internal medicine doctor who has not treated Trump, said that explanation could be plausible. “Older people have easier bruiseability,” Fischer said. “When you shake 50 people’s hands daily, that will cause those kinds of problems.”
Cognitive Concerns Have Also Entered The Conversation
The renewed hand speculation comes as critics continue to raise questions about Trump’s overall health and cognitive fitness.
Last month, Rep. Jamie Raskin formally requested that Trump undergo a “comprehensive” cognitive test. Raskin claimed the president had been “exhibiting signs consistent with dementia and cognitive decline.”
“In recent days, the country has watched President Trump’s public statements and outbursts turn increasingly incoherent, volatile, profane, deranged and threatening,” Raskin wrote.
He added that Trump’s “apparently deteriorating condition” had caused concern about his “cognitive function and continuing mental fitness for the office of President.”
The White House has strongly rejected claims that Trump lacks energy or fitness for the job.
Still, the photos of his hands gave critics another visual to focus on. Whether the marks are bruising from aspirin, frequent handshakes, age-related skin changes, or something else, the online reaction showed how closely Trump’s physical appearance is being watched.
