Trump’s tiny hands are now generating almost as much excitement as his big mouth, with mystery bruising now showing on his left hand, as well as the one he claims gets hurt in handshakes
While US President Donald Trump rages at any questions about his “perfect” mental and physical health, photos of his hands are now sparking further questions about his well-being. Bruising on the president’s right hand prompted his press secretary last year to give an explanation.
“President Trump has bruises on his hand because he’s constantly working and shaking hands all day every day,” said Karoline Leavitt. Trump then revealed this year that he takes a “larger” aspirin dose that “causes bruising”.
However, fresh bruising on his left hand is now fuelling fresh speculation that something else might be amiss with the oldest president in US history.
Trump’s left hand was on display as he welcomed the Florida Panthers to the White House on Thursday (January 15). The president wore champions rings in a congratulatory ceremony for the winners of the 2025 Stanley Cup.
He jokingly praised the hockey players for ensuring a Canadian team couldn’t lift the trophy. “We’re doing much better than Canada, but that’s okay,” he said.
“We want them to do well, and they’re going to do well.” Nevertheless, the president’s public appearances are drawing increasing scrutiny over signs his health might be failing
Trump-bashing TV network CNN pointed out that the new bruise on his left hand complicates his claim that bruising comes from constant handshakes along with a high dose of aspirin. Trump told the Wall Street Journal that he had been taking larger than recommended doses of aspirin for the last 25 years.
“They say aspirin is good for thinning out the blood, and I don’t want thick blood pouring through my heart,” he said. By taking 325mg each day, rather than the 81mg dose sometimes recommended by doctors, he admitted he could cause bruising.
“I take the larger one,” he said. “But I’ve done it for years, and what it does do is it causes bruising.”
Medical experts told CNN there saw no fresh cause for concern. They said Trump likely has a benign condition common in older people.
They warned, though, that by refusing to be more transparent about his health, the president was feeding the scrutiny he wants to escape. “He’s in the public eye, he has a certain image he wants to portray, and even these minor things detract from that image,” said Dr Jeffrey Linder from Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine.
But Dr Jonathan Reiner, a professor at George Washington University’s School of Medicine and Health Sciences, said the bruising could be a sign that Trump is on stronger blood-thinner medications than aspirin, raising questions about whether he has disclosed all the medicines he’s on. When asked at year-end about the bruising on the president’s left hand, the White House declined to issue any new explanation.
Trump himself, however, told the Wall Street Journal that he’s taking practical steps to stem the speculation. He now carries makeup in case his hand gets “whacked”.
“I have makeup that’s, you know, easy to put on, takes about 10 seconds,” he said.
For the latest breaking news and stories from across the globe from the Daily Star, sign up for our newsletters.