USA · 07 May, 2026 · 2 min read
New White House Photos Spark Scrutiny Of Donald Trump’s Bruised, Discolored Hands
New White House photos show bruising, swelling, and discoloration on both hands, concealed by makeup. Online and media scrutiny of Trump's health intensified following the images.
Whether the images should be treated as evidence of health decline.
7 of 9 outlets skipped it: april 2025 physical said Trump in “excellent health.”.
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Same story, two versions
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Times Now
“a single photograph is not enough to diagnose any medical condition accurately.”Read the original ↗
The Daily Beast
“fresh appearance... further fueling concerns about the state of his health.”Read the original ↗
One cautions against diagnosis; the other amplifies health-fear framing.
Viral hand photos
New White House photos from a Mothers Day event have reignited scrutiny of President Donald Trump’s health after social media users pointed to “discoloured” and bruised hands. The images showed Trump, 79, alongside First Lady Melania Trump in the East Room, with attention shifting from the ceremony to marks on both hands. Political journalist Aaron Rupar shared close-up images from the White House event on X, writing, "Yikes!
“Yikes! Both of Trump's hands are discolored today and one of them appears bruised as well.”
Both of Trump's hands are discolored today and one of them appears bruised as well." The Daily Beast reported that the hands appeared bruised and covered with makeup, while the White House has previously insisted there is no serious health issue behind the marks.T
White House pushback
White House spokesman Davis Ingle defended Trump by describing him as "the sharpest, most accessible, and energetic president in American history," while also saying the president meets and shakes hands with Americans daily. Newsweek reported that the White House has previously attributed the issue to aspirin use and soft-tissue irritation from handshakes, and it cited a 2025 White House memo stating the bruising is consistent with frequent handshakes and aspirin use.
Critics used the viral images to renew demands for transparency, with The Lincoln Project saying on X, "Every journalist should be asking what the hell is going on with this guy's health that they aren't telling us." In the same coverage, Newsweek noted that it reached out to the White House via email for comment.
What’s at stake
The renewed focus on Trump’s hands comes as the administration’s disclosed medical explanations remain tied to prior claims about aspirin and chronic venous insufficiency. The NCHStats account says the White House has treated hand marks and leg swelling as separate issues, and it states that doctors diagnosed chronic venous insufficiency and said tests found no evidence of deep vein thrombosis or arterial disease.
“The White House has released no new medical report tied to the May 6 event.”
It also says the White House has released no new medical report tied to the May 6 event, even as the photos drew renewed attention online. Meanwhile, El Mundo reported that European diplomatic conversations in Brussels increasingly center on Trump’s mental health, quoting that Slovakia’s Prime Minister Robert Fico conveyed concern about Trump’s "psychological state" and used the term 'dangerous.'