President Donald Trump’s hand — appearing bruised and coated in makeup— was on full display as he met with world leaders at the NATO summit in Turkey.
The 80-year-old Republican was seated beside Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan in Ankara Tuesday, where photographers captured tightly framed images of his clasped hands.
In those photos, the back of Trump’s right hand— visible beneath white sleeves secured with presidential cufflinks — looked noticeably darker than the surrounding skin, its tone suggesting it may have been slathered in concealer.
The recurring discoloration has become a subject of persistent scrutiny, fueling concern and speculation over the president’s health.
Similar bruising, often paired with visible cosmetic coverage, has been documented in recent months, including during Trump’s UFC event at the White House in June and after a meeting with coal miners in February. Some photos also seem to show markings on his left hand.
An NBC News photo analysis found the issue stretches back years, identifying at least two instances of visible bruising in 2024.
The White House has repeatedly brushed off concerns, attributing the marks to the physical toll of Trump’s constant public engagement.
“President Trump is the sharpest, most accessible, and energetic president in American history,” White House spokesperson Davis Ingle said in a statement provided to The Independent. “The President 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.”
Last February, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt stated explicitly that the bruising was due to constant handshaking.
After the president’s most recent medical exam in May, White House physician Dr. Sean Barbabella echoed that assessment, saying the bruising aligns with “minor soft tissue irritation related to frequent handshaking” while on aspirin therapy. The president takes aspirin as a preventative measure against cardiovascular issues.
Following his check-up at Walter Reed, Trump wrote on Truth Social that “everything” had “checked out PERFECTLY.”
Yet scrutiny has extended beyond his hands, with observers also noting swelling in his ankles and instances during official meetings when he appears to keep his eyes closed for prolonged stretches.
“The president has severe daytime somnolence. He falls asleep very often. He’s fallen asleep in the Oval Office on multiple occasions with people talking to him, in the cabinet room,” CNN medical analyst Dr. Jonathan Reiner said in May. “And chronic insomnia is a severe illness. It can result in an increase in risk of dementia, a decrease in cognitive effects in older people.”
At the time, a White House spokesperson told The Independent: “So-called medical professionals engaging in armchair diagnosis or false speculation for political purposes are clearly breaking the Hippocratic Oath they’ve sworn to.”
According to a June Quinnipiac survey, 59 percent of U.S. voters think the White House is not being transparent about the president’s health, while 34 percent think the administration has been open about it.
The unease echoes earlier scrutiny surrounding former President Joe Biden, whose physical and mental health became a persistent political issue before he ultimately withdrew from the 2024 race.
