Donald Trump had noticeable makeup on his right hand as he welcomed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to his Mar-a-Lago estate for peace talks on Sunday.
It came just days after discoloration was seen on the president’s left hand, raising doubt on the official White House explanation for the bruising.
Officials have routinely said that the repeated bruising seen on Trump’s right hand has been caused by handshaking and taking aspirin every day.
Highlights
- Donald Trump showed noticeable makeup on his left hand during peace talks with Ukrainian President Zelenskyy at Mar-a-Lago.
- Bruising that was previously on Trump's right hand appears to have spread to his non-dominant left hand recently.
- White House claims bruising is from frequent handshaking and daily aspirin use as part of cardiovascular prevention.
Bruising was spotted on Donald Trump’s left hand
Image credits: Ukranian Presidency / Handout/Anadolu via Getty Images
However, the bruising appears to have now spread to Trump’s left hand, which is not his dominant hand.
In an image taken on Christmas Eve, discoloration was visible on both of the president’s hands, although the apparent bruising on the left appeared to be gone by Sunday.
In a statement to The Daily Beast, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt reiterated the official line on the bruising.
“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,” she said.
Leavitt previously told reporters that the bruising was “minor soft tissue irritation from frequent handshaking and the use of aspirin, which is taken as part of a standard cardiovascular prevention regimen.”
The latest bruising comes amid scrutiny over Trump’s health.
Image credits: Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images
In November, the White House finally revealed the reason behind Trump’s October MRI scan after mounting questions and speculation.
Physician Sean Barbabella sent a memo to Leavitt stating that Trump, 79, had undergone the test preventatively because of his age.
The scan specifically looked at Trump’s heart and stomach to “identify issues early, confirm overall health, and ensure he maintains long-term vitality and function.”
Barbabella wrote in the memo that “advanced imaging was performed because men in his age group benefit from a thorough evaluation of cardiovascular and abdominal health.”
He described all of Trump’s major organs as “very healthy and well-perfused” and functioning within normal limits.
The president first revealed he had undergone an MRI at the Walter Reed Medical Center in October, some months after his yearly physical at the facility.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt reiterated the official line on the bruising
Image credits: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images
While he did not disclose the reason behind the MRI, Trump told reporters he had been given “perfect” results from doctors.
News of his MRI scan quickly sparked speculation about the state of his health, as it came after his diagnosis of chronic venous insufficiency (CVI), which has caused Trump’s ankles to swell.
CVI occurs when a person’s legs don’t work properly, meaning veins can’t manage blood flow correctly, and it is harder for the blood in the legs to return to the heart.
Treatment for the condition involves lifestyle changes such as getting more exercise, weight management, and leg elevation, as well as compression therapy.
Trump has also been photographed numerous times with makeup covering up significant bruising on his hand, something the White House has attributed to aspirin and handshaking.
As well as this, the president appeared to confuse a test to measure his IQ with the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) in October.
The MoCA is a 10-minute test to detect early dementia and mild cognitive impairment.