A visible bruise on President Donald Trump's right hand has triggered speculation about his health, with the White House attributing the mark to frequent handshaking. The discoloration, spotted during Trump's meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron at the White House on Monday, fueled online debate and medical scrutiny over its possible causes.
"President Trump is a man of the people," White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said. "His commitment is unwavering, and he proves that every single day." She added that Trump "has bruises on his hand because he's constantly working and shaking hands all day, every day."
Trump, 78, has had visible bruising on his right hand on multiple occasions, including last August and November. In a December 2024 interview with Time, he similarly dismissed concerns, stating, "It's from shaking hands with thousands of people." However, Trump has yet to release his full medical records, despite previously pledging to do so.
The White House just said the mysterious makeup-covered bruise on Trump’s right hand is because he is “shaking hands all day every day.”
Trump has still refused to release his full medical report. pic.twitter.com/QaN7d9KIgt — No Lie with Brian Tyler Cohen (@NoLieWithBTC) February 25, 2025
The emergence of new photos showing the discoloration led medical professionals to weigh in. Speaking to DailyMail.com, Dr. Stuart Fischer, an internal medicine physician in New York, suggested that aggressive handshaking could be a contributing factor but noted that Trump's age might also play a role. "Old age naturally weakens blood vessels and makes them more brittle, which makes bruising on any part of the body much more likely and severe," Fischer said.
He also pointed to osteoarthritis, a common age-related condition that affects 32 million adults in the U.S., as a potential explanation. Fischer said that osteoarthritis can cause easy bruising or discoloration around affected joints in the hand. He added that the condition can lead to swelling of the digits and a puffier appearance of the hands.
Other physicians have offered alternative explanations. Dr. Neal H. Patel, a primary care physician at Providence St. Joseph Hospital in California, suggested that the bruise could be from a blood draw or an IV infusion. "IV needles puncture the walls of veins, causing blood to leak out into surrounding tissue," Patel said. Some social media users echoed this theory, pointing out that bruising has appeared repeatedly in the same area.
Speculation over the president's health has intensified in recent months, with critics questioning his reluctance to release comprehensive medical records. During the 2024 election campaign, then-Democratic opponent Kamala Harris publicly disclosed her medical records to prove her fitness for office, while Trump only released a brief note from his personal physician stating he was in "excellent health."
Trump's meeting with Macron, during which the bruise was prominently visible, focused on discussions regarding a potential resolution to Russia's war against Ukraine. However, much of the public's attention shifted to images of Trump's hand, which quickly went viral on social media.
Observers noted that Trump's handshake with Macron lasted an extended 12 seconds, adding to a history of their often-awkward physical interactions. The two leaders have repeatedly shared firm, drawn-out handshakes in past meetings, with some commentators dubbing their gestures as competitive "power plays."
The White House's explanation has not quelled online speculation. "What aren't we being told about his health?" one X user wrote, while another questioned, "Is this why he wouldn't release his medical records?" The debate underscores the broader scrutiny surrounding Trump's physical condition as he embarks on his second term in office.
While medical experts largely agree that the bruise is not indicative of an immediate health emergency, the repeated instances of visible bruising continue to raise questions. Fischer stated that while the mark "looks grizzly," it is unlikely to signal a major medical issue. "I definitely don't think it's any kind of emergency," he said.
