Donald Trump has prompted renewed questions about his health after bruising on the backs of his hands appeared more pronounced in recent weeks.
The President was first seen with visible marks on his hands last year, which quickly led to public speculation about what might be causing them.
What initially looked like minor discoloration now appears to have expanded. This week, Trump was photographed with noticeably larger areas—seemingly covered with makeup—on the back of both hands as he and First Lady Melania Trump met with military mothers in the White House’s East Room.
In earlier explanations, the White House attributed the bruising to frequent handshaking with visitors and, later, to Trump having “clipped” his hand on a table.
Trump has also offered his own account. Speaking to the Wall Street Journal in January, he said the marks were linked to his daily aspirin use.
“They say aspirin is good for thinning out the blood, and I don’t want thick blood pouring through my heart,” Trump told the newspaper. “I want nice, thin blood pouring through my heart. Does that make sense?”
Aspirin can increase the likelihood of bruising, particularly at higher doses, because it affects how blood clots.
Trump’s physician, Dr. Sean Barbabella, told the Journal that the president takes 325 milligrams of aspirin daily—more than three times the roughly 81 milligrams commonly recommended for low-dose therapy.
Since returning to office for a second term last year at age 79, Trump’s health has remained a frequent topic of discussion.
Now the oldest serving president and set to turn 80 later this year, he continues to face intense scrutiny, although official medical assessments have consistently reported that he is in good health.
That record includes multiple cognitive tests which, by his own account, he “aced,” alongside the White House’s position that he is in “exceptional health.”
Even so, it has been disclosed that Trump has chronic venous insufficiency, a common condition that can cause leg swelling when veins struggle to return blood to the heart, leading to pooling. The issue is widely considered manageable and is more common in people over 70.
A March 2026 statement also noted that he uses a preventative skin cream for a rash on his neck, though the underlying cause of the rash has not been detailed publicly.
In his April 2025 medical exam, Trump was also classified as overweight, with his weight listed at 224 lbs (101 kg) and his height recorded as 6ft 2.5in.