President Donald Trump sparked fresh scrutiny after photographers noticed poorly matched makeup covering a recurring bruise on his right hand during a meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
The 79-year-old president hosted Netanyahu, 75, at the White House on Monday, where the two discussed the ongoing war in Gaza. Following their closed-door talks, Trump unveiled a new plan that he claimed could deliver “peace in the Middle East.”
At their joint press conference, Trump stumbled through several moments, including mispronouncing a biblical name and misstating the start date of his first presidential term. A close-up image taken during the event revealed the bruise on his right hand, long visible in public appearances, hidden beneath a layer of beige makeup that appeared noticeably mismatched to his natural skin tone.
The Daily Beast reported that the White House has attributed the mark to “minor soft issue irritation” linked to “frequent handshaking and the use of aspirin, which is taken as part of a standard cardiovascular prevention regimen.”
Observers noted that Trump has tried to disguise the bruise in several ways, whether by applying makeup, clasping the hand with his left, or keeping it tucked under a table. The recurring attempts have fueled continued speculation about the president’s health.
Trump, already the oldest president to take office, has faced visible physical challenges. He has been diagnosed with chronic venous insufficiency, a condition that leads to swelling when blood pools in the legs due to poor circulation. He has also been seen with swollen ankles.
Mental lapses have drawn equal attention. During Monday’s announcement of his 21-point Gaza peace plan, Trump appeared fatigued and struggled to articulate his thoughts. “I want to just say that my meetings and dialogue that we had with so many countries, Saudi Arabia as an example, the king is a phenomenal person, the Emir of Qatar, who’s an incredible person.
UAE, and that’s NBC and ABC, were totally involved,” Trump said, confusing media networks with Middle Eastern nations. As these moments accumulate, psychologist Dr. John Gartner told The Daily Beast Podcast’s Joanna Coles that Trump is showing signs of dementia and undergoing a “major deterioration” in language, motor skills, and impulse control.
Trump himself recently addressed health in a different context, promoting medical cannabis for seniors on Truth Social. The video endorsed marijuana as a treatment for “pain, inflammation, cognitive decline, and other ailments of aging.”
Despite mounting questions, the White House continues to lean on a statement from MAGA ally Rep. Ronny Jackson. “President Donald J. Trump is the healthiest president this nation has ever seen,” Jackson wrote, adding, “He is mentally and physically sharper than ever before.”
