US President Donald Trump has once again triggered online speculation about his health after social media users pointed to what they described as “painted” or discoloured hands during his recent meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at Mar-a-Lago in Florida.
Photographs taken outside the resort showed Trump’s right hand appearing darker than usual, prompting users to suggest makeup was being used to conceal bruising. One post read, “Trump's black hand is painted up today,” while another claimed, “Trump, with right hand caked with makeup to hide the bruising, is once again trying to conceal the fact that he is rotting away before our eyes.”
Referencing the same images, another user wrote, “You can clearly see the bruising on Trump's left hand here, as well as the makeup that covers the bruising on his right hand. Will the White House try to tell us that's from "shaking a lot of hands" too?”
The speculation follows similar online reactions earlier this month, when images from Christmas Eve showed both of Trump’s hands appearing discoloured during a holiday event at Mar-a-Lago attended by family members, including Melania Trump and her father, Viktor Knavs. One X user wrote, “FOLKS! It looks like Donald Trump's right hand discolored on Christmas Eve, but it appears that his left hand is now discolored too!”
Trump’s physician, Dr Sean Barbabella, has previously attributed the bruising to “minor soft tissue irritation from frequent handshaking and the use of aspirin,” adding that the president “remains in excellent health.”
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt reiterated the administration’s position when contacted by the Daily Beast. “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 has repeatedly maintained that the bruising is linked to handshaking and aspirin use as part of a cardiovascular prevention routine.
Trump, 79, met Zelenskyy at Mar-a-Lago as part of ongoing diplomatic efforts to end the Russia-Ukraine war. The meeting came a day after Russia launched ballistic missiles and drones at Kyiv, killing at least one person and injuring 27 others.
Despite the attack, Trump said he believed Russian President Vladimir Putin remained open to negotiations. “I do believe that we have the makings of a deal that’s good for Ukraine, that’s good for everybody. There’s nothing more important,” he told reporters.
“I’ve settled eight wars and this is the most difficult one. I thought it would be in the middle of the pack. This is the most difficult one, but we’re gonna get it done,” Trump added, while declining to set a deadline. “I don’t have deadlines. You know what my deadline is? Getting the war ended.”
The White House has consistently stated that the president is in “excellent health.”
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