As more photos emerge of bruising of President Donald Trump’s right hand, social media users are asking for answers regarding the president’s health.
On Monday, the X account Republicans Against Trump wrote: “Yikes. The American people deserve answers about what’s going on with Trump’s hand.” The post has since received more than 1.1 million views.
Last month, as photos of the president’s bruised-looking hand circulated, the White House released a memo explaining that Trump had been diagnosed with chronic venous insufficiency (CVI), which his physician described as “benign and common.”
Newsweek has contacted the White House for comment via email outside regular working hours.
Why It Matters
In January, Trump became the oldest person inaugurated president of the United States. While Trump, who turned 79 in June, has long faced scrutiny over his health, concerns have increased as more images show bruising on his hands and swelling in his legs.
In a May poll, 45 percent of respondents said Trump had been “not at all” or “not very” transparent about his health. In July, more than 8,000 people signed a petition calling for the president to release all his medical records.
What To Know
In July, the White House shared a report from Sean Barbabella, Trump’s physician, that said the president had CVI, but that no “signs of heart failure, renal impairment or systemic illness were identified.”
The report added that the bruising on the president’s hand was “consistent with minor soft tissue irritation from frequent shaking and the use of aspirin,” which the president takes as part of a “standard cardiovascular prevention regime.”
Trump has previously been seen with bruising on his hands. In a Time interview published in December, the president said of the bruise, “It’s from shaking hands with thousands of people.”
On Friday, Trump was photographed with a smaller bruise on his left hand and with a thick layer of make up on the back of his right hand while visiting the People’s House museum in Washington, D.C.
On Monday, during a meeting with South Korean President Lee Jae Myung, a bruise covering the majority of Trump’s right hand was clearly visible in photos.
CVI is a common condition, with about 150,000 new patients diagnosed with it each year, according to the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
According to the agency, CVI can contribute to “a diminished quality of life and loss of work productivity.” As it is “usually progressive,” it can also lead to “postphlebitic syndrome and venous ulcers” if left untreated.
Postphlebitic syndrome is a complication of deep vein thrombosis, which is the formation of a blood clot in one of the veins in a leg or arm that can cause lasting damage.
In the White House’s report, Barbabella wrote that a comprehensive examination of the president found “no evidence of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) or arterial disease.”
What People Are Saying
X user @Lottie64732696, a self-described MAGA supporter with more than 5,000 followers, wrote on Monday: “It is a bruise. A bruise, also known as a contusion, is a discoloration of the skin caused by broken blood vessels beneath the surface. It occurs when trauma or impact causes capillaries (small blood vessels) to rupture, releasing blood into the surrounding tissues. This trapped blood appears as a purple, blue, or yellow-green discoloration that gradually fades over time.”
X user @Xray_media, a self-described “X-ray of the White House” with more than 15,000 followers, wrote on Monday: “The admin treats presidential health like a branding crisis, applying concealer to inconvenient truths. The official story? ‘Vigorous handshaking.’ Apparently, democracy is now a full-contact sport.
“The makeup seen on Trump’s hand Aug 22 was gone by Aug 25, revealing dark bruises. The White House offers shifting reasons, from chronic venous insufficiency to a doctor’s memo blaming aspirin. Yet that doctor remains unavailable for questions, fueling the distrust felt by the 45 percent of Americans who already see a lack of transparency.
“When basic medical facts are hidden like state secrets, the health of the presidency itself is in question.”
What Happens Next
Scrutiny over the president’s health is likely to continue, though the White House and Trump’s medical team have maintained that he is in good health.
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