'I clipped it': Trump explains bruised hand after Davos appearance, cites aspirin use

White House says injury was accidental, but visible marks revive questions about presidential health disclosures

• Bruise on Trump's hand at Davos sparks renewed scrutiny of his health
• Trump says bruise was from hitting table, worsened by daily high-dose aspirin
• White House confirms injury was accidental, citing aspirin as cause for bruising

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A visible bruise on President Donald Trump’s left hand during a high-profile signing ceremony in Davos has reignited scrutiny of his health, prompting an unusual round of explanations from both the president and the White House. Trump insisted he is 'very healthy,' attributing the bruising to a minor knock against a table, compounded, he said, by his regular use of high-dose aspirin.

Images and videos from the so-called 'Board of Peace' signing ceremony in Switzerland showed noticeable bruising on Trump’s left hand as he signed documents in public view. The marks quickly circulated online, leading to renewed speculation and criticism over the transparency of the White House’s disclosures about the president’s health.

The episode echoes past instances in which Trump appeared in public with visible marks on his hands, often drawing attention disproportionate to the injury itself but reflective of broader anxieties around presidential health.

Trump’s explanation: “I clipped it”

Speaking to reporters, Trump dismissed the speculation, saying the bruise was the result of a routine accident.

“I’m very good. I clipped it on the table,” he said, adding that he applied a topical cream afterward. Trump also linked the bruising to his long-standing use of aspirin, which he takes daily.

Reporter: We saw the bruising on your hand. Are you okay? Trump: I’m very good. I clipped it on the table. So I put a little—what do they call it—cream on it. I clipped it. I would say take aspirin if you like your heart, but don’t take aspirin if you don’t want to have a little… pic.twitter.com/4VXNtxe7qh

— Acyn (@Acyn) January 22, 2026

“I would say take aspirin if you like your heart, but don’t take aspirin if you don’t want to have a little bruising,” he said. “I take the big aspirin. When you take the big aspirin, they tell you that you bruise.”

Trump said doctors had told him he did not need the medication, but he chose to continue. “I’m not taking any chances,” he said, describing bruising as a known side effect.

White House backs accident claim

The White House echoed Trump’s account, describing the injury as accidental. Press secretary Karoline Leavitt said the president struck his hand against the corner of the signing table during the Davos event.

“At the Board of Peace event today in Davos, President Trump hit his hand on the corner of the signing table, causing it to bruise,” she said.

A White House official later added that Trump is prone to bruising because of daily aspirin use and shared photographs taken before and after the ceremony, saying they showed no signs of bruising outside the event itself.

Aspirin use and medical context

Trump has previously acknowledged taking a higher daily dose of aspirin than is commonly recommended. In an earlier interview with The Wall Street Journal, he said he believed aspirin was beneficial for blood flow, remarking that he wanted “nice, thin blood” flowing through his heart.

His physician, Dr Sean Barbabella, has confirmed that Trump takes 325 milligrams of aspirin each day. By comparison, guidance from institutions such as the Mayo Clinic typically cites a lower preventive dose, around 75 to 100 milligrams daily, for most patients.

Medical experts note that aspirin, particularly at higher doses, can increase the likelihood of bruising by reducing blood clotting.

A familiar pattern of scrutiny

This is not the first time Trump’s hands have drawn attention. In the past, he has appeared with bruising on both hands and has occasionally been seen attempting to conceal marks with makeup or bandages, or keeping his hands out of camera view.

More broadly, questions about Trump’s health have resurfaced intermittently over the years. He has not released full medical records related to a previous assassination attempt in which a bullet narrowly missed his ear, and last year disclosed undergoing an MRI scan that the White House later described as precautionary.