Donald Trump Flashes New Bruise on His Left Hand Nearly a Year After White House Blamed Handshaking for Right Hand Injury

President Donald Trump’s recurring hand bruises — a subject of online speculation for months — drew renewed attention this week after he appeared at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.

During a Jan. 22 signing ceremony for his new “Board of Peace,” photographers captured what appeared to be a prominent bruise on the back of Trump’s left hand, below the pointer and middle finger. That stood out because earlier photos over the past year have more often shown bruising on his right hand.

Since last February, Trump, 79, has been photographed multiple times with visible discoloration on his right hand. In some images, the area appeared partially covered with makeup; in others, the bruising was more obvious.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt previously addressed the speculation by saying Trump bruises his hand because he is constantly working and shaking hands.

In July 2025, White House physician Sean Barbabella offered a more detailed explanation, writing that the bruising was “consistent with minor soft tissue irritation from frequent handshaking and the use of aspirin,” which he described as part of a standard cardiovascular prevention regimen.

But the new bruise seen in Davos raised fresh questions because Trump is right-handed and is most often seen shaking hands with his right hand.

Asked about the left-hand bruise on Thursday, Leavitt told a CBS News reporter that Trump had injured it during the event, saying he hit his hand on the corner of the signing table, which caused it to bruise.

Trump also discussed his aspirin use in a Jan. 1 profile with The Wall Street Journal titled, “As Signs of Aging Emerge, Trump Responds With Defiance.” According to the report, Trump said the bruises are linked to taking a higher dose of aspirin than his doctors advised because he is “superstitious.”

“They say aspirin is good for thinning out the blood, and I don’t want thick blood pouring through my heart,” Trump said. “I want nice, thin blood pouring through my heart. Does that make sense?”

The same report said Trump’s advisers have noticed his skin thinning, citing an incident at the 2024 Republican National Convention in which Pam Bondi — now attorney general — gave Trump a high-five while wearing a ring that nicked his hand.

“The ring hit the back of my hand, and, yes, there was a slight little cut,” Trump told the outlet. He added that he now applies makeup whenever he gets “whacked again by someone.”