Donald Trump’s hand bruise was clearly visible for the first time on Monday, Aug. 25.
After months of covering a dark mark on his right hand with makeup, the president appeared at several engagements with the bruise fully exposed.
The decision came following a weekend of growing public scrutiny online over the White House’s attempts to conceal the contusion for much of Trump’s second term.
In the past, Trump often used makeup to disguise the bruise, though the mismatched concealer still drew attention. During his meeting with South Korean President Lee Jae Myung on Monday, however, the bruise — stretching across a large portion of the back of his hand — was unmistakable.
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():focal(749x0:751x2):format(webp)/donald-trump-hand-bruise-2-082625-ed093bdb475d4a75b603d7845d7f7ed2.jpg)
Later that day, while signing executive orders, Trump mostly kept his right hand hidden under the desk or covered with his left hand. Still, when he raised documents or gestured during remarks on American progress in outer space, the dark purple area was visible.
The mark was first noticed in February beneath a layer of concealer.
After questions from the press and speculation online, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said the bruising was caused by Trump “shaking hands all day every day.”
In July, White House physician Sean Barbarella issued a note explaining that the bruising was “consistent with minor soft tissue irritation from frequent handshaking and the use of aspirin, which is taken as part of a standard cardiovascular prevention regimen.” He added that Trump “remains in excellent health.”
Despite that reassurance, the administration continued using makeup to downplay the bruise’s appearance for months.
Since the mark was first noticed, Americans have speculated about its cause and pressed the administration for more transparency. Recently, new photos of the bruise — still partially covered — reignited online theories ranging from skin cancer to routine IV therapy for an undisclosed condition.
Others connected it to Trump’s July diagnosis of chronic venous insufficiency, which had already prompted discussion after images showed his ankles appearing swollen.
The White House has not issued any additional statements about the bruise beyond its original explanation.
