A recurring bruise on President Donald Trump’s right hand has prompted questions among the mainstream media about his health — but the White House says the discoloration is simply from his rigorous handshaking schedule.
The bruise was most recently visible during Trump’s presentation of the Commander-in-Chief trophy to the Navy Midshipmen football team on Tuesday, where he clutched a football inscribed with his name while addressing the victorious team. Just a week earlier, the bruise was noticeable during his appearance on the North Lawn, where he said he was inspecting where to place a flagpole.
When asked about the bruise, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt defended the president’s health in emphatic terms.
“President Trump is a man of the people,” Leavitt said. “His commitment is unwavering, and he proves that every single day. President Trump has bruises on his hand because he’s constantly working and shaking hands all day every day.”
This explanation echoes Trump’s own statement to Time magazine in December 2024, when he attributed similar marking to “shaking hands with thousands of people.”
Dr. Ola Otulana, a physician at Cassiobury Court rehabilitation center in England, told The Daily Mail the bruising appears “consistent with a superficial contusion” likely “resulting from minor trauma.”
“This could occur from something as everyday as bumping the hand against a hard surface, repeated pressure – for example from leaning on a cane or gripping something firmly – or even medical procedures such as venepuncture, or blood draw,” Dr. Otulana explained.
The physician said bruising is “more prominent” in older adults due to their “thinning skin” and “more fragile blood vessels,” and can be worsened by medications such as aspirin, blood thinners, or anti-inflammatories.
The bruise was first spotted by the media as Trump attended the Al Smith Dinner in Manhattan last October. It was visible during his February 24 meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron at the White House, where photographs showed an apparent attempt to conceal it with makeup that did not match his skin tone.
The 78-year-old president’s health has been under intense mainstream media scrutiny since he took office in January, despite ignoring former President Joe Biden’s declining cognitive function throughout his entire term.
The White House released Trump’s medical report last week, which concluded: “President Trump remains in excellent health, exhibiting robust cardiac, pulmonary, neurological, and general physical function.”
The report, allegedly authored by Walter Reed physician Capt. Sean P. Barbabella, also noted that Trump had undergone “examination of the head, ears, nose, and throat,” which “revealed no significant abnormalities with the exception of scarring on the right ear from a gunshot wound.”
The report also mentioned that Trump has some benign lesions known as actinic keratosis, which are rough patches on the skin caused by long-term sun exposure.
Dr. Otulana noted that while the bruising “doesn’t raise any immediate red flags,” persistent bruising that spreads or is accompanied by other symptoms would warrant “further assessment.”
Despite these questions, the White House has maintained that the president is in excellent health and fully capable of executing his duties as Commander-in-Chief.
Take a look and decide for yourself —
White House says that a large bruise on Trump’s hand is from 'shaking hands all day every day' – NBC News https://t.co/lhCSUMMKEa via @GoogleNews
— Dushan (@Dushan41) April 18, 2025