WASHINGTON (AP) — Photos of new bruises on Donald Trump’s hand drew attention Thursday, but the 79-year-old U.S. president dismissed fresh speculation about his health, saying he had simply hit a table.
Trump has been seen with frequent bruises on his right hand since returning to the White House last year, often hiding them with bandages and makeup.
The White House has said it’s due to a combination of frequent handshakes and aspirin he takes for his cardiovascular health, which can lead to a tendency to bruise easily.
However, photos from Thursday at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, showed dark bruises in a similar location, but this time on Trump’s left hand.
The images, taken while Trump was at an opening ceremony for his global “Peace Board” initiative, quickly spread on social media.
“I cut it out at the table,” Trump told reporters on Air Force One when asked about the bruises, adding, “I would say take aspirin if you like your heart, but don’t take aspirin if you don’t want to get a little bruise.”
The White House had previously downplayed any concerns and gave the same explanation for the bruise.
Photos from the first days of the “Peace Board” event and from yesterday do not show bruises on the left hand.
There has been speculation about Trump’s physical condition given his age (he is the oldest person to assume the office of president), bruising on his hands, swelling in his legs, and several apparent moments of falling asleep during public events.
The administration revealed last summer that Trump’s leg swelling had been diagnosed as a symptom of chronic venous insufficiency, a common condition in which faulty venous valves allow blood to pool, causing swelling, cramps and skin changes.
It can be controlled with medications or specific procedures.
An unannounced hospital visit last year raised suspicions that his health was being kept secret.
Weeks later, Trump’s doctor said MRI scans had shown the president was in “excellent” cardiovascular health.
