Speculation about President Donald Trump’s health intensified this week after sharp-eyed observers noticed unusual behavior during his latest Oval Office press conference, fueling a wave of debate, criticism, and conspiracy theories online.
The 79-year-old President appeared before the media on Monday, August 25, to field questions on pressing issues, including U.S. involvement in the Russia-Ukraine war, the deployment of the National Guard in Washington, D.C., and his controversial proposals regarding election laws. But instead of his words, it was his body language that drew the most attention.
As cameras rolled, Trump sat at the Resolute Desk with his hands clasped tightly together, a posture he maintained throughout much of the session. Viewers quickly pointed out that the President, who is well-known for his animated mannerisms and expressive hand gestures, remained uncharacteristically still. For many, the change was difficult to ignore.
Later the same day, when Trump welcomed South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol to the White House, his behavior mirrored what had been seen earlier. Once again, he held his hands close, avoided gesturing, and appeared to deliberately conceal them from the public eye.
Within hours, social media was ablaze with commentary. “Does anyone notice that Trump is hiding his hand in this video and not doing his usual hand gestures?” one user asked on X, formerly Twitter. Another went further: “Why is Trump continually hiding his right hand?” Others demanded answers from journalists, insisting that the media was ignoring a visible bruise that some claimed to have spotted on the President’s hand.
This isn’t the first time Trump’s hands have raised questions. Earlier this year, during a February visit from French President Emmanuel Macron, high-definition cameras picked up what appeared to be a purple bruise on Trump’s right hand. The same mark resurfaced in April when Trump awarded the 2025 Commander-in-Chief Trophy to the Navy Midshipmen football team. On that occasion, reporters noted that makeup appeared to have been applied to mask the discoloration.
The White House has addressed the issue before. Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt stated earlier this year that the bruising was a result of the President’s famously rigorous handshake routines, claiming that the constant grasping of thousands of hands often leaves him with visible marks. Trump himself echoed this explanation in a December 2024 interview with Time magazine, suggesting that the blemish was nothing more than the wear and tear of his relentless public appearances.
Still, not everyone is convinced. Medical experts and political commentators alike have speculated about alternative explanations. Dr. Gareth Nye, a lecturer at the University of Salford, suggested in comments to the Daily Star that the bruising could be consistent with repeated intravenous (IV) treatments, pointing out that the discoloration resembled marks typically left after needle insertions. “That suggests he’s getting an infusion every month,” Nye explained, though he noted other possible causes.
Another theory floated by Nye and others is that Trump could be on blood-thinning medication, which commonly causes bruising, particularly in older adults. Others speculated that time spent golfing under intense sunlight could also contribute to skin fragility and easy bruising.
The theories have fed into a broader narrative that has long surrounded Trump’s health. At 79, he is the oldest president to ever serve in office, and questions about his stamina and medical history have been frequent talking points for both supporters and critics. The secrecy with which he and his administration often treat his medical details has only fueled further speculation.
Yet, Trump himself continues to brush aside such concerns. In public, he often emphasizes his strength, stamina, and mental sharpness, regularly portraying himself as more vigorous than his political rivals. During campaign rallies, he frequently pokes fun at questions about his health, insisting he remains in peak condition.
Still, the optics of concealing his hands during high-profile appearances have undeniably sparked intrigue. The President’s reluctance to address the matter directly has only deepened the mystery. For political opponents, it is another example of what they see as a lack of transparency from an administration already criticized for secrecy. For supporters, it may be nothing more than an overblown distraction from policy issues.
What is clear is that every gesture—or lack thereof—by Trump is scrutinized under the public microscope. Whether the marks on his hands stem from something as mundane as overzealous handshakes or something more serious, the images have reignited the conversation about the President’s health and what it means for the nation’s leadership.
For now, the White House maintains there is no cause for concern. But unless Trump himself directly addresses the issue in more detail, speculation is unlikely to subside anytime soon. In an era where even the smallest detail becomes a headline, the mystery of the President’s bruised hands has become the latest example of how quickly questions can spiral into widespread theories.
