As U.S. President Donald Trump shakes hands in the U.K., outlets there are reporting on his hand bruises, which have also made news here at home.
In a Wednesday article, The Independent reported that the “White House has shared new pictures appearing to show Donald Trump’s hand still covered in makeup ahead of his state visit to the U.K.” It cited this X post in which includes a photograph of the 79-year-old president’s hands from a distance.
The Daily Star reported this week that “eagle-eyed viewers think Donald Trump is using [First Lady] Melania as a way of covering up the bruise on his hand.” YahooNews! UK also reported on Trump’s health this week, referencing both his hands and his chronic venous insufficiency diagnosis.
Sean P. Barbabella, physician to the president, said in a memorandum that condition is benign and common, especially in people over age 70. Audacy also reported that Barbabella attributed the bruising on Trump’s hands – something the media has been spotted since at least last spring, according to Intelligencer – to his use of aspirin as a preventative measure for cardiovascular issues and frequent handshaking.
Photos of the president’s recent trip to the U.K. do show him shaking many hands, from King Charles III to Prime Minister Keir Starmer. Some of these photos do appear to show unblended makeup on one of Trump’s hands. Intelligencer noted that the bruise and the makeup first received widespread attention when a Getty photographer zoomed in on it during French President Emmanuel Macron’s visit to the White House in February.
“While typically bruises can take between one week and a month to heal, longer lasting marks can indicate a more serious health issue such as a low blood platelet count or blood clotting issues,” said The Independent’s report.
Trump is one of the most well-known people in the U.S., and as the president his health receives considerable attention, similar to the public’s reaction to Princess Catherine of Wales’ health last year. Recently, Audacy reported that rumors about Trump’s health reached a peak over the Labor Day holiday when some were speculating that he had died. Last week, The Washington Post published a critique of the president’s hand makeup by a makeup artist who worked on the 2024 “Apprentice” film featuring Sebastian Stan as Trump.
In addition to U.K. outlets reporting on Trump’s bruises this week during his European trip, The Daily Beast (based in the U.S.) also reported on the bruises Thursday. It said he “made a desperate attempt to hide his bruised hand by tucking it under a table during his visit to the U.K.”
Despite the reports about his hand bruises, Trump’s team continues to tout the septuagenarian’s good health and nearly inexhaustible energy.
This week, Audacy reported on multiple people close to the president noticing that he seems to hardly need sleep.