Featured Image Credit: Win McNamee/Getty Images
Topics: Donald Trump, Politics, US News, Health
Liv Bridge
Topics: Donald Trump, Politics, US News, Health
A 'large bruise' has apparently re-appeared on Donald Trump's hand, sparking fresh concerns for his health despite the White House squashing rumors.
While on his campaign trail last year, eagle-eyed viewers noticed the president had what looked like a nasty yellow bruise on his right hand at various points, which seemingly re-appeared in photographs when he met the French president, Emmanuel Macron, in the Oval Office in February.
Then days later in March, two darker marks were seen on the palm of the same hand which White House officials brushed off as signs Trump had simply been busy at work.
Now, the mysterious discolouration appears to have made a keen comeback as the dark mark was seen sprawled across the 78-year-old's hand again while he presented the Commander-in-Chief trophy to the Navy Midshipmen football team on Tuesday (April 15).
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The lofty award is given to the winner of the American college football series with teams made up of Army, Navy and Air Force academies.
Trump spoke to the victorious team as he held a football with his name emblazoned on it as well as a championship ring while the bruise was on full show.
According to The Daily Mail, skin-colored make-up had appeared to have been used to try to conceal it.
Speculation has been spiralling over the course of the past few months that the president has some sort of health issue that requires an IV drip or blood test.
However, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said the marks were signs the president has simply been busy at work, shaking hands.
"President Trump is a man of the people and he meets more Americans and shakes their hands on a daily basis than any other president in history," she said in a statement earlier this year. "His commitment is unwavering and he proves that every single day."
Leavitt hammered home the point in a follow-up, saying: "President Trump has bruises on his hand because he's constantly working and shaking hands all day every day."
While some haven't been particularly convinced by the explanation, others said they don't think the bruise isn't anything to worry about, given his age.
A doctor also suggested that the bruise could be from a 'minor trauma,' such as a blood test.
Dr Ola Otulana, a GP and physician at Cassiobury Court rehabilitation centre in Watford, England, told the news outlet that the bruise appears to be 'consistent with a superficial contusion.'
"This could occur from something as everyday as bumping the hand against a hard surface, repeated pressure - for example from leaning on a cane or gripping something firmly - or even medical procedures such as venepuncture, or blood draw," he added.
The doctor said such bruising appears 'more prominent' in older people due to thinner skin and 'more fragile blood vessels.'
Aspirin, blood thinners or anti-inflammatories can also make marks 'appear more easily and linger longer.'
Dr Otulana reassured concerned citizens that there are no 'immediate red flags' from the bruise but if it were to persist or accompany other symptoms, 'further assessment would be sensible.'